Medway Navigation

The River Medway in England flows for 70 miles (113 km) from Turners Hill, in West Sussex, through Tonbridge, Maidstone and the Medway Towns conurbation in Kent, to the River Thames at Sheerness, where it shares the latter's estuary.

The Medway Navigation runs from the Leigh Barrier south of Tonbridge to Allington just north of Maidstone.

To that point each village on the river had its wharf or wharves: at Halling, Snodland, New Hythe and Aylesford.

In 1746 improvements to the channel meant that barges of 40 long tons (41 t) could reach East Farleigh, Yalding and even Tonbridge.

The shallowest point is just below Sluice Weir Lock which is prone to silting after heavy rain.

Allington Lock and Sluice, it is at this point that the river becomes tidal.