Higham is a large village, civil parish and electoral ward in the borough of Gravesham in Kent, England. The village lies just north-west of Strood, in the Medway unitary authority, and south-east of Gravesend. The civil parish had a population of 3,938 at the 2001 Census, increasing slightly to 3,962 at the 2011 Census. History The priory dedicated to St. Mary was built on land granted to Mary, daughter of King Stephen. In 1148, the nuns of St Sulphice-la-Foret, Brittany, moved to Higham. Higham priory was also known as Lillechurch. On 6 July 1227, King Henry III confirmed the royal grant to the abbey of St. Mary and St. Sulpice of Lillechurch. The original parish church, the Church of St Mary, stands to the north of the present village. Now redundant, it is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, and is open to visitors on a daily basis. It contains much medieval woodwork and its pulpit is one of the oldest in Kent, dating from the 14th century. The Higham Village History Group, founded in 1997, is devoted to assembling the history of the village Parts of Higham Higham has developed as two parts, the original Saxon village of Higham to the north (now Lower Higham) and a more recent settlement to the south around the main road linking Gravesend to Rochester (Upper Higham), which grew in size and importance during the 1800s. Village facilities Services within the village are centred on the two parts of Higham. Higham (upper) is the larger and is the site of the main parish church of St John's, a post office, a GP's surgery, several pubs, convenience shops, a greengrocer, a fish and chip shop, a Chinese takeaway, a library and an Indian takeaway. Higham (lower) is smaller. It is the location of the original and now redundant St Mary's Church; originally 4 pubs (all closed) The Sun Inn, The Chequers, The Railway Tavern and the Malt Shovel; a garage and Higham railway station. Until recently there was a Post Office and shop serving this area of the village. The village primary school (Higham County Primary), village hall (Higham Memorial Hall), park (Higham Recreation Ground), tennis courts and the Knowle Restaurant are approximately halfway between the two parts of the village on School Lane. Until the 1990s the GP surgery serving the village was also based in this area. Points of interest