Medway Gap

The Medway Gap is a topographic feature in Medway near Rochester in South East England.

The River Medway passing through the Medway Gap. In the foreground is Cuxton with the Cement Works at Halling to the rear. The A228 is visible.
The M2 motorway, and the raillink crossing the Medway, between Cuxton and Borstal. The Nashenden valley on the other bank is typical of Kentish downland scenery.

It was created when the prehistoric River Medway cut through line of chalk hills now known as the North Downs;[1] other rivers such as the Darent and the Stour have similar features.

Its past significance as a means of travel is indicated by the prehistoric Medway megaliths in the area. Today a local rail route and a relatively major road (the A228) utilise the valley. The river here is bridged by the M2 motorway and High Speed 1 viaducts.

It also has the effect of creating local weather patterns, thereby frequently exhibiting opposite conditions to the surrounding countryside.

It is also used by local government to refer to the series of small towns north west of Maidstone, within Tonbridge and Malling such as Aylesford, East Malling, Eccles, Larkfield, Leybourne, Snodland and West Malling

References
  1. Kev Reynolds (1 Aug 2001). The North Downs Way. Cicerone Press Limited. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
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