What a run down miserable town centre! Depressing! Grubby, run down, derelict, boarded up shops, depressing shopping malls and most importantly no shoppers, during the week that is. Dartford does come alive on Thursdays and Saturdays when the markets take place.
Sadly it is a dying town centre, like so many high streets where the shops have closed, or moved to the big new shopping centres, Bluewater in this instance. All that seems to be left in Dartford centre, are pound shops, Primark, Wilkinsons, betting shops and a few struggling retail shops. Plus a Waitrose supermarket, and a cluster of chain shops, all on the outskirts of the actual centre. Unfortunately for the shops on the main street, it is possible to shop at these venues, without actually setting foot in the town centre.
A view of the main street, with Walter walking down it, in the hope of finding a pet shop which sold small locusts. The street is closed to traffic, which is a real plus. But there are no trees, no cafes and no seating to enhance the shopping experience.
The second article, from Newsshopper, talks about Retail guru Mary Portas branding part of Dartford Town Centre as 'disgusting' and 'derelict' on national TV. Dartford was awarded 79,500 pounds as part of the Mary Portas pilot towns scheme, which is aimed at rejuvenating Britain's struggling high streets. There is no evidence of that money being spent as yet.
Mary Portas criticised Tesco, who bought 10 shops, 11 years ago, and have done nothing with them. Tescos have dithered as to their plans, and I believe some of the plans submitted to council have been turned down. But there is a very recent article by Kentonline, dated 6th August, that states that Tesco has finally submitted a plan to the council. So here is hoping. The shops in question are along this road, Lowfield Street.
Dartford has so much history, more than I can put on this page, but is available to read on the Wikipedia site, www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartford.
Dartford is situated in a valley through which the River Darent flows, and where the old road from London to Dover crossed, so the place was called Darent + ford. Take 'en' out and you have Dartford.
A few highlights from Wikipedia. The Romans built a road through the valley and the Saxons probably built a town here. During medieval times Dartford was an important waypoint for pilgrims enroute to Canterbury and Europe. A new manor house was constructed by King Henry VIII, and parts of this building still stands in Dartford. And apparently in 1576 Dartford Grammar was founded, part of the Tudor emphasis on education for ordinary people.
There have always been industries in, and around, Dartford: a paper mill,a mustard factory, an iron slitting mill, a gunpowder factory, a pharmaceutical business, a car manufacturing factory plus many others. Sadly during the 20th century, factories and businesses closed down, causing redundancies and unemployment. There was also 1,700 acres of spoiled land left which resuls from extractive industries. The Bluewater shopping centre was built on the Swanscome Cement Works site. The later fact, I did not know.
The mural "One town that changed the world' in Bell Corner, Dartford, was commissioned by Dartford Borough Council as part of the millennium celebrations. It was done by Paul Farmer. The mural depicts Dartford's notable contribute to the world through it's industrial heritage. Sadly after 13 years, it has faded, in comparison to Paddy Power, the bookmakers, with its smart shop front. Obviously gambling is popular in Dartford.
Sadly, Tescos are too busy saving themselves ! Meanwhile, Dartford decays. . . . . .
ReplyDeleteI lived in the Dartford area for many years. Very sad to see it go from the bustling town of my childhood to the rundown place it is today. Still has a few attractions, the park for one, but it will never be the Dartford I knew again.
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