GRAIN (ISLE-of), a parish in the hundred of Hoo,
lathe of AYLESFORD, county of KENT, 1 mile (N. W.
by W.) from Sheerness, containing 254 inhabitants.
The living is a vicarage, in the peculiar jurisdiction of
the Archbishop of Canterbury, rated in the king's books
at £9. 11. 8., and in the patronage of the Rev. George
Davies. The church is dedicated to St. James. There
is a place of worship for Independents. The island,
which is about three miles and a half long, and two and
a hah0 broad, is formed by the Thames on the north,
the Medway on the south, the junction of those two
rivers on the east, and Yantlet creek on the west.
There are salt pans on that side bordering upon the
Medway. In the reign of Edward III., Yantlet creek,
though now almost choked up, was the usual passage
for vessels trading to and from London, which thus
avoided a more circuitous and dangerous route; at present
it is navigable, at spring tides only, for barges.