 The East Kent Railway built the first rail bridge (which opened on 29 March 1858) for its line from Strood to Chatham.It was designed and built by Joseph Cubitt, and had four spans, one of which could be opened to allow masted ships through, although this was later found to be unnecessary and so was fixed shut.The bridge was built of iron girders supported on masonry piers, 600 feet in length and weighing 700 tons.