Chatham Placemaking

Celebrating rich history and connecting communities to put Medway on the map.

FrancisKnight were appointed by Medway Council to work on the Chatham Placemaking Project, a £4 million government funded public realm scheme to regenerate the route from Chatham Station to the Waterfront. The funding helped to create an easier journey for pedestrians and cyclists with improvements made at Chatham Station, New Cut Junction, St John’s Square and Military Square.

FrancisKnight commissioned Lead Artist Christopher Tipping to work closely with LDA Design and Project Centre to deliver permanent public artworks for the scheme as part of the public realm improvements.

Chatham is full of history, streets where wars were won, celebrations were held and Charles Dickens walked. To celebrate this, in the Summer of 2016 a community engagement programme took place. Christopher Tipping collaborated with three other artists: writer Rob Young, Printmaker Xtina Lamb and Filmmaker Simon Williams. During artist-led workshops, school activity and community consultation, local people were invited to contribute their stories which were made permanently tangible within the hard landscaping.