In 2014, the Kent Gardens Trust carried out a review of historical information relating to Broomhill Park, Strood.

Adapted/taken from the report:

The site is well documented, particularly the documentation of its strategic importance for millitary campaigns, stretching as far back as the roman period.
"In 1264, Simon de Montfort was believed to have planned his military campaign against Henry III on the site; in the1640s, during the Civil War, Cromwell’s troops were ambushed on Broomhill; and during the Second World War air raid precaution posts and observation posts were set up on the hill to supplement early warning coastal radar systems."

Skeletal remains have been uncovered on the site, as a result of building works. An ancient Briton was unearthed together with his sword, dagger, and an amethyst ring. In 1955 mid-17th century skeletons were discovered, they had been buried on the hill.

"From the 1870s, housing development gradually encroached on the hill (OS map 3rd and 4th edns.) culminating in the 1950s with the building of double rows of prefabs on former orchards, now the site of the park. By 1977, the remaining prefabs had been demolished, and following an appropriation order for further housing in 1978, the brow of the hill was designated as an ‘open community space’ by the council, “to prevent any further incursion on one of Medway’s green spaces” (Friends of Broomhill). The park The park was opened in the early 1980s and the play area re-furbished in 1991.

… In 2003, Medway Council published its Local Plan which gave Broomhill Park some protection as a designated open space.
In 2007, the community organisation, Friends of Broomhill, was set up and has been working in conjunction with Medway Council and Groundwork UK (an environmental charity), with financial support from the Big Lottery Fund, to create a community park with recreational facilities. All three organisations worked together to produce ‘Broomhill Park – A Future Vision’ (Friends of Broomhill website) which sets out options for the future development of the site, and provides background information intended to inform future consultations.
…Although the site as a whole is considered a significant heritage asset, the municipal park itself is of recent origin with major and continuing developments only since 2007, and, therefore, does not constitute an historic designed landscape.

…SITE DESCRIPTION
Broomhill Park, owned by Medway Council, covers c4.5ha and lies on steeply sloping ground 240 feet (circa 80 metres) above sea level; it forms part of the North Downs ridge. The park’s boundary comprises trees of mixed species, within which there are small areas of woodland, two children’s playgrounds, large areas of lawn interspersed with specimen trees, and intersecting pathways. Pathways also radiate from the brow of the hill to all areas of the town; all entrances to the park are open. Throughout the park, the trees mainly comprise damson, cherry, hawthorn, field maple, hornbeam and horse-chestnut.
To the south of the park there is a c4ha area of privately-owned woodland, to the south-east of which lies a c3ha area of playing fields. At the summit of the park, east of the woodland, lies an area of shrubland, considered to be an important habitat for flora and fauna with recorded sitings of some rare species of plants. There is also a conspicuous mast. The summit offers far-reaching views (known locally as the Two Rivers view): to the north there are views of the river Thames and landmark sites such as Tilbury Fort and Cooling Castle; and to the south there are views of the river Medway and the surrounding towns of Chatham, Rochester and Frindsbury."(1)

NOTE: The archaeological and Second World War remains mentioned in the above text are not known to the Historic Environment Record, if further information becomes available, new records will be created.

<1> Kent Gardens Trust, 2014, The Kent Compendium of Historic Parks and Gardens for Medway: Broomhill Park, Strood (Unpublished document). SKE31404.