January 15, 2017 by Nigel Rumsey

Gravesend Methodist Church

I’ve been working for a little while on a long-form project at the Sanctuary, a night shelter for the homeless in Gravesend.

They’re an incredibly inspiring group of people who, in a time of trouble, go some way to restoring my faith in human nature. Much more of this project to come.

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The Call Boy, Harmer Street, Gravesend Just so we are clear we’re not mentioning the van - it doesn’t move, ever. I’ve been back several times, that van isn’t going anywhere. The Call Boy was built in 1953, replacing the demolished Assembly Rooms pub that was on this site before it. In 2008 the brewery Shepherd Neame closed The Call Boy along with many other pubs in the area. In 2009 it reopened as a Bar Liquorice which lasted until 2012, it then had a short life as a gay bar called Angels. All trace of Angels has vanished, the windows are boarded up presumably to keep the vandals out. The rear garden hasn’t been so lucky, it now features its very own car-without-wheels feature along with a couple of old rusting washing machines. The original pub on this site was called Institute Shades which opened in 1846 and was associated with the Grand Theatre that was on the site. At some point, the name was changed to the Assembly Rooms and then Grand Bars. Records seem to suggest it may also have been called the Theatre Tap and the Theatre Bar somewhere along the way. The Grand Theatre closed in 1933, but the pub remained open until the roof of the theatre fell in in 1952, when it and the pub were demolished. The Call Boy was built in on the same site in 1953. This is one of many pubs to have recently closed in Gravesend. Since the turn of the century, 24 pubs in the town have ceased trading. Part of an ongoing project. Information from the Lost Pubs Project and pubhistory.com. #thecallboy #documentingbritain #gravesend #kent #pub #publichouse #bar #closed #documentaryphotography #everydaygravesend

Manor Shades, 1 Manor Road, Gravesend There have at some time been sixteen pubs in Gravesend with the suffix ‘Shades’ to their name. Manor Shades was the last when it closed on 31st December 2012. There were also ‘Shades’ pubs across south-east London and Kent. I can only assume they were tied to a brewery, but I haven’t been able to find any reference to it online. Manor Shades opened in 1879. In 1904 in an early act of corporate rebranding, the name changed to Burton Ale Shades, which lasted until 1925 when it reverted to Manor Shades. This is one of many pubs to have recently closed in Gravesend. Since the turn of the century, 24 pubs in the town have ceased trading. Part of an ongoing project. #manorshades #burtonaleshades #documentingbritain #gravesend #kent #pub #publichouse #bar #closed #documentaryphotography #everydaygravesend

The Railway Tavern, 1a Railway Place, Gravesend The Railway Tavern opened in 1881 and was tied to the Meux’s Brewery, it still features the original Meux glazed tiles. After 129 years of trading it closed in 2010 and then reopened in 2011 as D-Ream. D-Ream lasted just over a year, closing in October 2012. It now trades as Treatz Dessert Parlour, one of two pubs in the town that have reopened as ice cream parlours. This is just one of many pubs to have recently closed in Gravesend. Since the turn of the century 24 pubs in the town have closed their doors for the final time. Part of an ongoing project. #documentingbritain #gravesend #kent #pub #publichouse #therailwaytavern #bar #closed #documentaryphotography #everydaygravesend

The Terrace Tavern, 46 The Terrace, Gravesend. The Terrace Tavern and Hotel was situated at 46 The Terrace. This pub was present in records from 1837. It was tied to the Russell’s Brewery of Gravesend and the exterior of the still has the beautiful green tiles advertising Russell’s ‘Shrimp Brand’ beers, dating from around 1913. At one time the pub had its own football team, indoor cricket team, darts and pool teams; a real community hub. The pub closed in 2009 and was empty until 2013 when it was converted to the current food store. This is just one of many pubs to have recently closed in Gravesend. Since the turn of the century 24 pubs in the town have closed their doors for the final time. Part of an ongoing project. #documentingbritain #gravesend #kent #pub #publichouse #theterracetavern #bar #closed #documentaryphotography #everydaygravesend

The City of London, 27 The Terrace, Gravesend. The building that was once the City of London is in a great location high above the river Thames. The original pub was founded here in 1839. Unfortunately, that building was destroyed by fire in 1893. The rebuilt City of London traded until 2002, in 2009 it was converted to a b&b. This is just one of many pubs to have recently closed in Gravesend. Since the turn of the century 24 pubs in the town have closed their doors for the final time. Part of an ongoing project. #documentingbritain #gravesend #kent #pub #publichouse #thecityoflondon #thecity #bandb #bar #closed #documentaryphotography #everydaygravesend