The South Gate blue plaque

This blue commemorative plaque records: The South Gate Constructed in 1861 and originally known as 'The Factory Gate' this was for the convenience of those in the Steam Factory opened in 1854. Spot the gas jet for dock yard workers to light their pipes. (Smoking and matches were strictly forbidden in the dockyard.) The County Court House This building was completed in 1852 and continued to administer justice in Sheppey until 1969 with subsequent courts being held in the former Civil Defence building in Mile Town (now the site of Sheppey College) Recorded plaque organisation: Blue Town's Heritage Trail.

The South Gate, originally called 'The Factory Gate,' was constructed in 1861 to facilitate access for workers at the nearby Steam Factory; a gas jet near the gate allowed dockyard workers to light their pipes safely, as smoking and matches were prohibited within the dockyard.