GRAVESEND, a town of Kent in England, situated on the banks of the Thames. It is a place of great resort, being the common landing-place for seamen and passengers in their journey to London. All outward-bound ships are obliged to come to an anchor here, till they have been visited and examined by the custom-house officers, and here they generally take in provisions. Here is a blockhouse well mounted with cannon, to command the ships and river, directly opposite to Tilbury fort in Essex. Both at Billingsgate and Gravesend a bell is rung for 15 minutes at high water by night and day, to give notice to the tilt-boats and wherries to put off. The town is commonly called the corporation of Gravesend and Milton, these two places being united under the government of a mayor, 12 aldermen, 24 common-council, a town-clerk, &c. Here is a very handsome charitable foundation; Mr Henry Pinnock having in 1624 given two dwelling-houses, and a house for a master-weaver, to employ the poor; and a good estate is also settled for the repairs. The town was plundered and burnt by the French and Spaniards in the reign of Richard II. after which the king, at the request of the abbot of St Mary-le-Grace of Tower-hill, to whom he had granted a manor there, called Parrocks, vested it with the sole privilege of carrying passengers thence by water. Great part of it was destroyed by fire in 1727, together with the church. The latter has since been rebuilt as one of the 50 new churches, and the houses
are much handsomer than before. The streets are narrow, but paved with flints. The chief employment of the labouring people is spinning of hemp to make ropes and nets for fishing. The town is also famous for gardening; the best asparagus in the kingdom being produced here.