Text description beneath the picture (subject to any spelling errors due to the OCR program used)

SHEERNESS THE Island of Sheppey, oft the north coast of Kent, is eleven miles long and four in breadth. It is of varying elevation, the north coast having some eight miles of high ground and cliffs, while the south is so low that it has to be protected against the Swale river by strong sea walls. This part of the island produces the famed Sheppey mutton, while much of the northern part is occupied by market gardeners. Off the north coast are valuable oyster beds, which supply the London market. There are several settlements in the island, including Sheerness, by far the largest and most important, Minster-on-Sea, Eastchurch and Queenborough. Sheppey does not attempt to compete with fashionable watering-places, but it has nevertheless attained a high degree of
popularity with health and pleasure seekers. Without the irksome conventions of the better advertised resorts, there are the usual seaside amusements, a good beach and a long esplanade. Seaward, there is a constantly changing panorama, including all sorts of craft, and frequently even warships. Sheerness is a considerable dockyard, port, and naval and military station, whose chief interest of course, centres in the dockyard. It is not now engaged in the building of warships, but is the principal repairing depôt for torpedo craft, and now employs from 1,500 to 2,000 men. Visitors are admitted during working hours. Ships of the Home Fleet may often be seen in the harbour—Sheerness being the headquarters of the Nore Division—and always excite great attention among the visitors. Looking out from the esplanade, the pier of Southend can be seen, and a little to the right is Shoeburyness, where artillery practice is carried on.