Chalk, Kent

Chalk
St Mary's Church
Chalk Location within Kent
Population	2,163 (2011.Ward)[1]
OS grid reference	TQ675735
District	Gravesham
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GRAVESEND
Postcode district	DA12
Dialling code	01474
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Gravesham
List of places UK England Kent 51°26′N 0°25′E / 51.43°N 0.41°E / 51.43; 0.41

Chalk is a village and since 1935 a former civil parish which adjoins the east of Gravesend, in the Gravesham district, in the county of Kent, England. As is intuitive, its name comes from the Saxon word cealc meaning a chalkstone.

One layer of the chalk carries flints, stones embedded in the chalk, and these were used in building and in providing the means of fire for muskets. The stone is often cut to provide a flat edge as a craft known as flint-knapping. The trade was worked in Chalk from the 17th century onwards. Gun-flints were produced here in large quantities until the early 19th century.

Current issues relating to the immediate environment around Chalk include a proposed new Lower Thames Crossing across the nearby estuary marshes, confirmed in 2017.