Original: Letters Patent dated 25 January 1982, text also available from Medway Council archives website On 1 April 1998, the existing local-government districts of Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham were abolished and became the new unitary authority of Medway.
Simplified: Letters Patent dated January 25, 1982, text retrieved from Medway Council archives website On April 1, 1998, Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham joined together  to became the new unitary authority of Medway.