Auction House London’s Area Guide to Rainham
Auction House London’s Area Guide to Rainham
Auction House London has a number of interesting properties listed for auction throughout the City and surrounding areas. Our property auction experts are knowledgeable about the different areas in and around London, such as Rainham in Kent, and are sharing a series of London area guides to help investors make more informed decisions.
This latest addition to the Auction House London series focuses on Rainham in northern Kent, just southeast of London and easily commutable in and out from the city centre. There are often plenty of residential and commercial opportunities for investors in and around the area.
Where is Rainham?
Rainham is in the unitary authority of Medway, within the ceremonial county of Kent in South East England. It lies to the east of Gillingham and just under 40 miles from the centre of London. Historically a separate village, Rainham has expanded significantly since the 20th century and now forms part of the Medway conurbation.
Rainham is served by Rainham railway station, which lies on the Chatham Main Line between London Victoria and Dover Priory. Trains also connect to London St Pancras via the High Speed 1 link. Bus services operate throughout Rainham, connecting it to nearby towns such as Gillingham, Chatham and Sittingbourne.
The history of Rainham
The name Rainham is believed to derive from the Old English ‘Regna ham’ meaning ‘homestead of the ruling people’. Before its relatively recent development, Rainham was a small agricultural village for centuries, mostly centred around farming and local trades.
The arrival of the railway in 1858 was a big turning point, almost immediately transforming Rainham into a commuter town for London workers. It was part of the county of Kent until 1998, when the area became part of the new unitary authority of Medway. Time has seen the traditional village character of Rainham give way to more suburban development, although some parts of old Rainham retain their historical charm.
What does the architecture and property market look like in Rainham?
Rainham’s housing market offers a broad mix of properties. Alongside older cottages and Victorian terraces, there are many semi-detached and detached houses built during the interwar and postwar periods. More recently, modern housing estates and apartments have appeared, providing options for first-time buyers and families alike.
There are quite a few development opportunities too, with several plots of land recently sold in our April Auction such as this plot on Deanwood Drive measuring approximately 437 square metres, or 0.1 acres. Or this much larger plot on Rainham Park Estate measuring approximately 19,020 square metres, which is around 4.7 acres. There were also smaller plots available, such as this plot on Long Catlis Road measuring just 179 square metres, or 0.04 acres, all of which sold successfully in our last auction.
There are four further plots offered in our two-day May auction sale in similar areas to the above plots.
Deanwood Drive including the west side of Deanwood Drive as well as Lovelace Close and a further plot on Rainham Park Estate.
What are the amenities like in Rainham?
Rainham has a well-developed set of amenities, with the town centre boasting a good range of shops, including independent retailers, supermarkets and cafes. The Rainham Shopping Centre provides plenty of convenient access to high street names and local services.
The town also has a library, a leisure centre with gym and swimming facilities, as well as a nearby medical centre. For an even wider range of amenities, residents can also easily travel to nearby Gillingham or Chatham, while central London is a manageable drive or train ride away too.
Open spaces in Rainham
One of Rainham’s standout features is its access to green spaces. The Riverside Country Park sits on the banks of the River Medway and offers expansive walking and cycling routes across marshland and meadows. Berengrave Local Nature Reserve is a former chalk quarry that has been transformed into a habitat for wildlife and is now a lovely and peaceful spot for visitors.
Rainham also has smaller parks and playing fields scattered throughout, providing plenty of outdoor spaces for sports and recreation.
What are the schools like in Rainham?
Rainham has several primary and secondary education options. Primary schools include Rainham Mark Grammar School’s Junior section, Park Wood Junior School, and Fairview Community Primary School.
Secondary education is well served by Rainham Mark Grammar School, one of the highest performing schools in Medway, as well as The Howard School and the Rainham School for Girls. There are also several academies and special educational needs schools within easy reach.
Auction House London prides itself on having local knowledge about diverse areas of the capital. If you have questions about Rainham or any other area or suburb in and around London, please contact our team of property auction professionals. If you’re looking to buy property in London at an auction, browse through the lots listed in our forthcoming auction. Or, if you have a property you want to sell in London or the surrounding areas, why not see how much it could be worth in an auction with a free valuation by Auction House London.