Oyster cultivation and dredging propbably took place on a small scale until the creation of the Borough in 1368. Borough records contain an early reference in 1452-3. Queenborough grew substantially in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the Borough Records indicate its main source of wealth until the nineteenth century lay in its oyster fishery. The Borough's jurisdiction over the Swale was from the junction with the Medway to Kingsferry. The fortunes of the town and its oyster fishery were severely disrupted in the early 19th century by the double dealing of its corrupt local government. (1).

<1> Goodsall, Robert H, 1965, Oyster fisheries on the North Kent coast (Article in serial). SWX9334.