Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Concrete slipway built between 1898 and 1900. It was used for shipbuilding up to and including the Second World War. In 1995 it was demolished.

Monument Types

• SLIPWAY (Demolished, Modern - 1989 AD to 1995 AD (between))

Full description

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Large slipway, number. 8, built between 1898 - 1900. Originally it would have measured 521' 4" (158.9m) long, between 82' and 90' wide (25m and 27.4m) and 20' (7m) deep. It was angled at 55 degrees to enter the Medway. The first ship laid down on it was the King Edward VII class battleship Africa which was laid down on the 27th January 1904 and launched 20th May 1905 and was the last battleship built at Chatham. The largest ship built at No.8 was the cruiser Kent in 1926 which measures 590' x 68'3" x 16'3". It was used for shipbuilding up to and including the Second World War and demolished in 1995.(1)

CgMs Consulting, 2006, Archaeological Desk Based Study and Impact Assessment - Chatham Interface Land, Chatham Dockyard, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE15833.

CgMs Consulting, 2006, Preliminary historic building assessment Chatham Interface Land (Unpublished document). SKE15834.

<1> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1996, Number. 8 Slipway, Chatham Maritime Chatham, Kent: Archaeological Fabric Survey (Unpublished document). SWX6922.

Sources and further reading