Lower Halstow#Church

{{Short description|Village in Kent, England}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox UK place

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|51.3738|0.669|display=inline,title}}

| official_name = Lower Halstow

| static_image_name = St Margaret, Lower Halstow, Kent - geograph.org.uk - 326761.jpg

| static_image_caption = Parish church of St Margaret of Antioch

| population = 1180

| population_ref = (2011 Census)

| shire_district = Swale

| shire_county = Kent

| region = South East England

| constituency_westminster = Sittingbourne and Sheppey

| post_town = Sittingbourne

| postcode_district = ME9

| postcode_area = ME

| dial_code = 01795

| os_grid_reference =

}}

Lower Halstow is a village and civil parish in the Swale district of Kent, England. The village is northwest of Sittingbourne on the banks of the Medway Estuary. It lies north of Newington on the A2 Roman road.

The 2011 census recorded the parish's population as 1,180.{{cite web |url= http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126120&c=Lower+Halstow&d=16&e=62&g=6438640&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1474466202375&enc=1 |title=Area: Lower Halstow (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics |publisher=Office for National Statistics |work=Neighbourhood Statistics |accessdate=21 September 2016}}

The village has a long history, with evidence of constant occupation since the Iron Age. Being so close to the water, Lower Halstow has (until recently) been a village that has made its living from the water. Whether it be ancient pottery making, ancient fishing, barge building,{{cite web|first=Hayley |last=Robinson |url= http://www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne_messenger/news/dream-of-returning-barge-to-12382/ |title=Westmoreland barge returns to Lower Halstow |date=6 February 2014 |publisher=Kent Online |accessdate=19 March 2014}} or in the 19th- and 20th-century brick-making (Eastwoods Brickworks),{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2008/05/22/history_medway_barges_feature.shtml |title=A Barging Childhood |date=22 April 2008 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=21 March 2014}} the water has been the lifeblood of the village.

According to Edward Hasted in 1798, two large hospital ships, commonly called lazarettos, (which were the surviving hulks of 44-gun ships) were moored in Halstow Creek. The lazarettos monitored ships coming to England which were forced to stay in the creek under quarantine, to protect the country from infectious diseases.{{cite journal |last=Hasted |first=Edward |year=1799 |title=Parishes |url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62945 |journal=The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |volume=6 |pages=34–40 |accessdate=28 February 2014}}

In 1563 Queen Elizabeth ordered a survey, and Halstow Key (a wharf on the creek), was made up of 24 people in houses and 14 living on boats. There were two hamlets, one beside the wharf and the other around Halstow Green on Lower Street. The rest of the northern lands were salt marsh. Lands heading southwards (measuring 1200 acres) were heavy clay. All the lands were under the control of the manor of Milton Regis.

The creek and some of the village is featured in the 2017 film Wonder Woman.{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=Aodhan |title=Lower Halstow features in new Wonder Woman trailer |url= http://www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne/news/village-features-in-wonder-woman-trailer-59559/ |date=20 January 2016|publisher=kentonline|accessdate=6 June 2017}}

The village has an active cricket club.