MEDWAY DISTRICT
Entertainment Venues
From Theatres & Cinemas to bingo halls, Ghost stories abound in the Entertainment world of England, from shadow figures seen to unexplained noises heard. Kent is not exempt from those stories and witness experiences. Paranormal events are held across the county in some places of entertainment, so don't forget to check out the Events in Kent page. Here is what GofEPS has so far for the Medway District
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CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR THE BUSINESS WEBSITE
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​If you hear of any reports of Paranormal Activity at any of the listed places that aren't reported here, or you know of any not mentioned, please get in touch. Thank you
1. INVICTA CINEMA/BINGO HALL
No Website, Now Demolished
Chatham, a once thriving naval base that flourished under the reign of Elizabeth 1, holds a significant place in history. It later gained greater popularity as the home of Charles Dickens, who immortalized one of the ancient houses in nearby Rochester in one of his novels. Today, still associated with the navy, its occupants are more engaged in other industrial activities, but its historical significance remains.
The Croneen brothers of Gillingham owned Medway's three Invicta cinemas. On Easter Monday, 1914, the first to open was the 600-seat Gillingham Invicta at the western end of High Street.
In 1916, the brothers opened a second Invicta in Fullager's Yard off Chatham High Street. It was larger than their Gillingham premises, with 1000 seats and a 30-foot-wide proscenium. A Woolworths store was soon to be on its immediate left.
H and W.G. Croneen sold this Invicta Cinema to J.H. Canvin in April 1929 to help finance the Gillingham Plaza. It became the Ritz Cinema, and films continued to be screened until 1939, when the Church Army used the cinema. The cinema closed, and when the Church Army left, the building remained empty.
During the Second World War, it became a shelter for those who had lost their homes as a result of Blitz bombings. It was during this period that one night, the building suffered 'an almost direct hit which injured a large number and killed four of the temporary residents, three of whom were children.
After the Second World War, it became a warehouse and then, later, an indoor market.
In 1962, Gerry Cameron spent £20,000 fitting out the Invicta Cinema for entertainment again, not films, but wrestling, ballroom dancing and bingo. The Rolling Stones played there in 1964. However, bingo was the most viable option, and it was eventually sold to Coral, the last business to run in the building.
They persevered in the building until March 1985, and sadly, the building was demolished in 1987.
The area is now a car park run by Medway Council.
**HAUNTINGS**
The stories of hauntings are not recent but from when the building was on the site, but Paranormal history tells us that just because the building has gone doesn't mean the spirits of the past have!
Reports of 'strange noises being heard' were made in the building throughout the 1940s while it was in use as a cinema, but no sightings occurred until the 1970s.
In 1974, Several customers and a staff member reported that they had seen the ghostly figure of a 'man in green walking about the foyer and upstairs on the balcony. The apparition was always seen during the evening and had been witnessed more than once by an all-night cleaner. He stated that he had also heard the sounds of children's voices in the building but could not locate the noise source. Initially, he dismissed his experience as 'being due to tiredness ' until he learnt that other staff members had also heard the children and two at least had seen the man in a green military-style uniform. By 1975, interest in the case was so
By 1975, interest had grown, and a clairvoyant was brought in to investigate further. The clairvoyant conducted a thorough investigation, spending several nights in the building to connect with any lingering spirits.
The sensitive person heard the name Bill Malan and stated that this man was associated with the building when it was a cinema.
This was confirmed when further research was done, and Mr. W. Malan was recorded as a commissionaire at the cinema for over 15 years until he died in 1955. He had always worn a green uniform! His concern for the children during his wartime service was well known. The haunting had lessened since the clairvoyant's visit, but the sounds of children were still heard at night.
So, could Mr Malan and the children still be lurking in the area? Was the soldier possibly from when the Church Army was in the building?
I'd love to hear from you if you have more up-to-date stories about the building or its aftermath. Please share if you or someone you know has experienced anything paranormal in or around the site. Your story could help me piece together the history of this fascinating place.
2. OAST CENTRE
The Wakeley Brothers, a local entrepreneurial family, left a significant mark on the community. Established in 1897, they were known for their farming ventures in the local area around Rainham and Upchurch. Their main crops, hops and fruits, contributed to the local economy and shaped the region's agricultural landscape.
The Oast House in Rainham, a monumental structure sited alongside the Railway Station, was more than just a building. It was a living symbol of the Wakeley Brothers' enterprise, built using their bricks and tiles in the late 1800s. The two kilns within its walls dried and packed the hops and provided ample storage space for the harvested fruit and grain. It was their business office and a central hub where their entrepreneurial dreams took shape. This place still resonates with their spirit.
When Hop drying techniques changed in the mid-20th Century, the Wakeley Brothers business consequently decided to replace their five old, existing Oast Houses in Upchurch and Rainham with a brand new, purpose-built facility in Spade Lane. The Oast house was up for sale in the late 1960s.
When the Oast House was put up for sale in the late 1960s, it could have been the end of an era. However, the local community saw a new beginning. Several business people, who commuted to London by train from Rainham daily, recognized the potential of the vast old building as a new venue for the Rainham and Wigmore Community Association (RWCA). Their collective efforts and dedication transformed this massive Oast building into an excellent, usable community space in the early 1970s. Thanks to the hard work and commitment of many friends, volunteers, and local businesses over the past fifty years, the Rainham and Wigmore Community Association has maintained this fantastic historical building and facility for everyone to use and enjoy in the foreseeable future.
**HAUNTINGS**
In 2010, medium Wendy Gray and a private paranormal investigator visited the Oast House. Their findings, which you can watch on the GofEPS YouTube playlist HERE, sparked further interest in the building's history. Since then, Ghost Hunters Tours and Kent Paranormal have conducted several Paranormal investigations, uncovering more about the building's haunted past. Staff and team members have reported activity, including chairs and Bar shutters moving, and some have reported a lousy feeling when walking in certain parts of the building.
Granary Close, Rainham Gillingham ME8
3. THEATRE ROYAL
102 High Street Chatham ME4
No Website, Now private residence.
The Theatre Royal, a magnificent 3,000-seat theatre, stood proudly at the western end of Chatham High Street in 1899. Its grandeur, a testament to the French Renaissance style, and its role as a Playhouse and Variety House made it a significant part of Chatham's cultural heritage. Initially proposed to be named the Victoria Theatre, the theatre underwent several transformations. Its name was changed to the Royal Hippodrome and then back to the Theatre Royal. , each adding to its historical significance.
The Theatre Royal, which was larger than the London Palladium, was a pioneer in the use of electric lights, a significant milestone in the history of theatres.
The Theatre Royal was not just a building but a stage for some of the most iconic names in showbiz. It hosted performances by legends such as Charlie Chaplin, Max Miller, Gracie Fields, and George Formby, leaving a lasting impression on entertainment history.
The theatre closed in 1955 and was converted into shops and a warehouse.
In the 1980s, a campaign was started to convert the building back to its original use, but the cost mounted to £20m. Sadly, in 2002, this had to be abandoned, and the building was left empty and started to become derelict and vandalised.
Property developer Chatham Housing applied to knock it down as the building fell apart but got embroiled in a long battle with the council.
The grand auditorium was demolished in 2009, leaving just the substantial entrances, foyers and bars. They were bought, along with a former bank and coffee house next door.
Today, the theatre has been transformed into twenty-six flats, with the lower main entrance housing a Turkish Restaurant—Pasha Meze, which has since moved to another part of the High Street.
By 2021, the building had undergone a significant transformation. It now houses luxury one—and two-bedroom apartments, a testament to its enduring legacy.
I will update to a recent picture when I get a chance to go to Chatham
**HAUNTINGS**
A couple of ghosts are said to haunt when it was the Theatre Royal, Chatham, with several sightings in the 20th century.
A male spirit had been seen watching shows. Sometimes, he stayed and enjoyed the show; other times, he stood up and walked out.
The building is also said to be haunted by a female in a long evening dress, and others have said they have experienced mild poltergeist activity.
Fullagers Yard Chatham ME4