SHEERNESS, Kent, a town in the parish of Minster-in-Sheppey, is situated at the north-west point of the Tale of Sheppey, on the right bank of the river Medway, at its junction with the Thames, in 51' 27' N. lat., 0' 44'E. long., distant 20 miles N.N.E. from Maidstone, and 47 miles E. by S. from London. The population of the town of Sheerness in 1851 was 5519. The living of Sheerness is a perpetual curacy in the archdeaconry of Maidstone and diocese of Canterbury.
lit the time of Charles I. the eito of the town was a swamp, at the extremity of which, after the Restoration, a fort was built and mounted with twelve guns, to secure the passage up the Medway. When the Dutch war broke out, it was intended to augment the fortifications ; but on the 10th of July 1687 tho Dutch forced their way up the Medway, teat down the defences, and took the fort, which was incomplete. It was soon restored on an enlarged scale, and has been from time to time augmented by additional works; and a dock yard, which has been made one of the finest in Europe, was esaabliabed. In 1798 the mutiny of the fleet at the Nore excited great alarm. In 1827 Sheerness suffered from an extensive conflagration.
The town consists of three parts—Sheerness proper, including the fortresses and dockyards, and the suburbs' of Blue-town and Mile town : an outer line of fortifications comprehends Blue-town within its incloeure, but not Mile-town. The place has been much enlarged
within the last few years. It is lighted by gas, and partially pared. The garrison, or fortress, oceupica the extreme point of the island; the principal batteries front the Thames. A large fleet of ships in ordinary generally lies off Sheerness. The wharf fronts the Medway. The dockyard, store-housee, sail-lofts, fic., occupy an area of 60 acres. Close to the dock-gates ie a handsome chapel, the appointment to which is in the Board of Admiralty; and in Mile-town is a new gothic church. There are places of worship for Wesleyan Methodists, Baptists, and Roman Catholics ; a National school for boys and girls; and a savings bank. A county court is held in the town. Saturday is the market-day. The trade is chiefly dependent on the dockyard ; but some shipments are made to London of corn and seed, the produce of the Isle of Sheppey, and the oyster-fishery is prosecuted to some extent. There are copperas-worke at a little distance. Sheerness is resorted to in summer for sea-bathing. A long jetty has been carried out into the river for landing passengers. •