Kelly’s Directories have listed all trades and businesses throughout the UK since around 1835. They are now an invaluable source of  local history, information and insight into local business life. Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre have a collection on microfilm. In the 1961 edition, the businesses along Railway Street and Military Road, make for interesting reading. Here is a selection –

Military Road 

Nos 1 & 3 – Burton Montague, Tailors

No 4a – The Salad Bowl – High Class Fruiterers

No 9 – Bliss and Lawrence – Auctioneers

No 13 – Gieve’s Ltd, Royal Naval, RAF & Civilian Tailors

No 20 – Greenburgh Bros. Ltd, Outfitters

No 26 – Naval & Military Arms, Public House

No 27 – Imperial Forces Public House and Paddock Restaurant

No 28 – E.J Whitaker & Sons, Tailors

No 40 – Unifit, Outfitters

No 50 – Chatham Constitutional Club

No 56 – W. Cooper, Outfitters

Railway Street

Nos 1 & 3 – Prince of Wales Hotel

No 5 – F&H Newcombe Ltd, Gowns

No 17 – Titcumbs, Mrs D. Rogers, Ladies hairdressers, specialist & beauticians

Nos 14 & 16 – Scott’s Timber Yard

No 26 – Frank Bannister & Son Ltd. Motor & Motor Cycle engineers.

No 31 – Cameron Thomas, Physician and Surgeon

Station Yard – Newsagent – Elders & Fyffe’s Ltd Banana Importers – St John’s Ambulance