The Paddock occupies a prime urban site opposite the Town Hall in the centre of Chatham. Built on an area of marshland reclaimed in the C16, before belonging to the War Department, the area is now owned by Chatham Council, and was purchased around the turn of the C20. Once reclaimed, the Paddock formed part of the defensive 'field of fire', however, following the Napoleonic wars its use became redundent. The are was planted with trees, becoming a green space. The land wall (now Globe lane) was completed by 1633 (possibly 1588) which allowed the reclaiming of the marshland either side. Closest to the river lies the Riverside Gardens, formally New Gun Wharf used by army ordnance. During a period of the enlargment of fortifications in the area (such as the building of Fort Amherst), Military Road was built, parallel to Globe Lane. The land inbetween became the Paddock (c.1805). The area was initially used for the storage of timber but by 1842 the land is depicted as an open space with established ornamental trees, both conifer and deciduous. The are was known as the Shrubbery. After its acquisition by the council, the Shrubbery changed its name to the Paddock by 1910. During the Second World War, the Paddock was being used as a car park. By 1955, along with the acquisition, and development, of New Gun Wharf (now Riverside Gardens) by the council, the Paddock was restored to a grassed area with ornamental flower beds and a mix of survivng mature trees.