Property for sale in Upper Stoke

Our guide for Strood offers a brief overview of the town and its attractions, properties, schools, history, council tax and public transport links.

Overview

Strood is a town which lies on the North West bank of the River Medway at the lowest bridging point, and is part of the Rochester ME2 post town. The name Strood comes from the word Strod or Strop, which refers to ‘a marshy land over-grown with brushwood’. Strood is a mainly residential town and popular with London commuters. Strood was part of Frindsbury until 1193, but now Frindsbury is considered part of Strood. Other neighbouring Strood areas that fall within the Robinson Michael & Jackson’s branch catchment includes Upnor, High Halstow, Cooling, Hoo and Wainscott.

Shopping

Strood’s best shopping can be found at the retail park, where big names including Next, B&Q and Matalan all have stores. There are three supermarkets serving the town; Morrisions, Tesco and Asda. You’ll also find a Wilkinsons and other smaller retailers in the town centre.

Attractions

The land between Grange Road and Station Road is famous for holding the Strood Fair, whose roots dates back to 1206. Although the fair doesn’t run today, the ground is still home to regular events – with a market on Tuesday and Saturday, and a boot fair on a Sunday. Visit The Medway Valley Park on the outskirts of Strood for three restaurants, a Premier Inn hotel, a cinema, a bingo hall, a nightclub and a private gym.

Food and Drink

Strood has a nice selection of cafés, restaurants and take-aways and fine dining can be found in the neighbouring villages. Try The Ship and The King’s Head in Upnor, The Red Dog in High Halstow and The Barn in Cooling.

History

The Romans built a stone bridge and road along a causeway across the marshy ground. The road went up Strood Hill and was called Watling Street. It is better known today as the A2 and runs all the way into London. An annual fair was instituted in 1206 to be held on the 26^th August which continued well into the 18^th Century. It was traditionally held over three days and was held regularly into the 1970’s. The land used for the Strood fair was sandwiched between Grange Road and Station Road, adjacent to Strood railway station.

Property Market

Strood has a large mix of properties, ranging from small terraced houses to large detached homes.

There are also many new developments being built in Strood and the surrounding areas. Desirable roads include Brompton Farm Road and Rede Court Road. The more rural areas surrounding Strood are home to substantial properties, including oast cottages, complete with several acres of land.

Council Tax

Strood is in the Medway authority and here are the council tax charges for 2011/12, with a parish charge.

Education

There’s a good selection of schools to choose from in Strood, including:

Primary Schools

• Hilltop Primary School
• All Saints Primary School
• English Martyrs Primary School

Secondary Schools

• Strood Academy
• Hundred of Hoo

Hospitals

The nearest hospital to Strood is the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham

Transport Links

Strood offers an over ground train station with frequent trains to central London and to the coast. A high speed service to London St Pancras is available from Strood, taking just 31 minutes. Trains also travel to Ebbsfleet International, Charing Cross, Victoria, Bromley South, Canterbury and Margate. London Commuters can also use The Kings Ferry coach service into the capital. Strood has great links to the A2/M2, the A229 and the M20, and a selection of bus routes to other Medway towns and beyond.