The Brook, Chatham
Looking south along The Brook towards the Union Street and High Street junction | |
| Former name(s) | Old Bourne River |
| Part of | A231 road |
| Namesake | Old Bourne River (former watercourse) |
| Owner | Medway Council |
| Length | 550 m (1,800 ft) |
| Tourist routes | Charles Dickens’s childhood home, The Brook Theatre, Old Brook Pumping Station |
| Location | Chatham, Kent, England (within Chatham Central and Brompton ward) |
| Quarter | Chatham Town Centre |
| Postcode | ME4 4NZ |
| Coordinates | 51°21′51″N 0°31′16″E / 51.3642°N 0.5210°E |
| North end | Dock Road (near Chatham Waterfront bus station) |
| Major junctions | Dock Road (A231), Globe Lane / Waterfront Way, Military Road, Queen Street, Slicketts Hill, High Street (A2) at Union Street |
| South end | High Street at Union Street |
| Other | |
| Known for | Follows former Old Bourne River; 19th‑c. slums; Charles Dickens’s childhood home; Brook Theatre; Brook Pumping Station |
| Status | Open; part of A231 road |
The Brook (/ðə brʊk/), historically the Old Bourne River, is a significant street and area in Chatham, Kent. Originating as a natural stream, it played a crucial role in the town’s early development. It was known for 19th-century slums and public health issues. Today, it serves as a main road with civic and commercial functions.