GRAVESEND, graveend. A market-town, municipal borough, and river port in Kent, Eng land, 30 miles below, London, on the right bank of the Thames (Map: England, G 5). Its pros perity has always depended upon London, of which it is the boundary port, where pilots and revenue officers board vessels ascending the river, and where troops and passengers embark for long voyages. Its extensive fruit and vege table gardens form the chief supply of the London markets; it carries on an important trade in fish and in ships' supplies, has boat-building, iron-founding, brewing, and soap-boiling. The town occupies a commanding position on the first rising ground after entering the river, and ex tends for two miles along the water-front, the older and lower portion with narrow streets and the upper and newer portion with handsome thor oughfares, squares, and terraces. Its salubrious air and beautiful scenery make it a favorite ex cursion and summer resort. Its public buildings are conspicuous,• and include the late Decorated Milton parish church of the time of Edward II., and the Gravesend parish church, re&ected in 1731, which was the burial-place of the celebrated Indian princess Pocahontas in 1616. Among the
educational establishments are the free grammar school (founded 1580), Parrock Hall Industrial School, Milton Mount Congregational School for Ministers' Daughters, science and art schools, and a free library.
The Domesday Book mentions Gravesend as a hythe or landing-place. A town soon grew up after the Conquest, and the hythe was the as sembling-place for early navigators, including Sebastian Cabot and Martin Frobisher. Here the London Lord Mayor, aldermen, and city companies received all eminent foreigners and conducted them up the river in stately pro cession. The privileges granted by Richard II. and Henry IV. were confirmed by Queen Eliza beth's charter. of incorporation in 1573. The fortified Vaubanian earthworks, constructed in the reign of Charles II. to renforce Tilbury Fort, have been strengthened in recent years at considerable expense. The municipal borough comprises the parishes of Gravesend and Milton. Population, in 1891, 24,000; in 1901, 27,200.