Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The first recorded use of the Medway area by the Royal Navy was in 1547. Shortly after this ships began to harbour in the Medway but it was not until 1567 that the site was first referred to as Chatham. Soon after additional facilities were constructed. The first ship to be built at the yard was launched in 1586. Stores, workshops and officers accomodation were built in 1618 but none of the buildings of this early yard survive. The dockyard expanded further along the river frontage throughout the 17th century and into the 18th century. Many of the 18th buildings still survive at the site. As the strategic importance of the dockyard grew so did the need for defence; an extensive complex of fortifications centred on the base were built during the later 18th century.

By the later 18th century the role of Chatham had changed; the site was no longer convenient as a supply base so in 1773 Chatham found a new role in the construction of capital ships, and major refits. Amongst the ships orignating from Chatham was Nelson's flagship vessel Victory. Changes in technology and ship size necessitated further expansions during the early 19th century. The first steam powered ship built at the yard was launched in 1849; the first all-iron ship was launched in 1863. The yards took on their present form in 1885 when the three major basins at the North end of the yard were completed at a cost of £3,000,000. The dockyard was finally closed in 1984, ships based there being redeployed to Portsmouth and Devonport.

Monument Types

• NAVAL DOCKYARD (Post Medieval to Modern - 1547 AD to 1984 AD)

Full description

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The first recorded use of shore facilities in the Medway by the Royal Navy was in 1547 when a store for equipment was rented on the South bank of Gillingham Water. Sheltered, rock-free anchorage and good strategic location near to London and on the East coast favoured the development of a base for the fleet. In June 1550 the Privy Council ordered that paid off ships should be harboured in the Medway and ships were transferred from Portsmouth for repairs. By 1563 the base was the most expensive of the four bases maintained for the fleet. The site is first referred to as Chatham in 1567, at which date the first land was acquired. Additional facilities were constructed in the 1570's- 1590's. The first ship to be built at the yard was launched in 1586. A further 80 acres were leased in 1618, 6 acres being put to immediate use for the construction of a new range of two storey buildings for stores, workshops and officers accomodation. These were arranged around three sides of a square, facing the river, enclosing a new double dock and yard [Auth.(1) plate 2].

None of the buildings of this early yard [centred at c. TQ 75806910, and scheduled] survive. The dockyard continued to expand along the river frontage throughout the 17th century [Auth. (1) plate 2] During the Civil War the docks were held by Parliament. The yard was first enclosed by a wall and fence in 1682/3. This wall was extended and rebuilt to enclose a greater area in the 18th century. The strategic importance of the dockyard led to the construction of a extensive complex of fortifications centred on the base during the later 18th centuries [see associated records]. During the 18th century shoaling of the Medway, the need to cater for larger ships and changed strategic priorities meant that Chatham was no longer convenient as a supply base. In 1773 the Navy Board therefore changed the role of Chatham to one principally of construction of capital ships, and major refits. Extensive reconstruction of the South end of the dockyard took place during the 18th century [Auth. (1) plate 9]: many of the buildings of this time are still extant and form one of the most important industrial complexes of Northern Europe [see associated records]. The yard expanded to the North during the early 19th century, responding to changes in technology and the ever increasing size of ships. The first steam saw-mills were introduced 1810-1813; the first steam powered ship built at the yard was launched in 1849, and the first all-iron ship was launched in 1863. St Mary's Island (centred TQ 769705) was purchased between 1820 and 1854. Between 1860 and 1885 the three major basins at the North end of the yard were constructed at a cost of #3,000,000, and the yards took on their present form.

The dockyard was finally closed in 1984, ships based there being redeployed to Portsmouth and Devonport. Principle archives relating to the dockyard are held at the Public Record Office and the National Maritime Museum. The latter collection includes a model of the yard constructed in 1774 [Auth.(1) plate 3]. (1-3) Detailed account of the history of land acquisition, administration and labour relations at the yard, based on primary sources (4).
Includes:
TQ 76 NE 102 - Covered slip
TQ 76 NE 130 - South Mast Pond
TQ 76 NE 103 - Mast Pond
TQ 76 NE 107 - Lower Boat Store
TQ 76 NE 105 - Expense Account Office
TQ 76 NE 1048 - Pumping Station

Site was also indicated on early charts (5,6) and has been recorded on site photographs (7-41).

Historic England archive material: AA44/01481 The exterior of the Grand Store at Gun Wharf from the south west The photograph is stamped "Passed as Secret for Historical Purposes only. Under no consideration to be Reproduced (?) in the Press". BF106176 DRY DOCKS, CHATHAM HISTORIC DOCKYARD, MAIN GATE ROAD, CHATHAM FL00624 Chatham Historic Dockyard, Medway, Kent

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> Jonathan G Coad, 1989, The royal dockyards 1690-1850: architecture and engineering works of the sailing navy. No.1, Detailed survey of the pre-late 19th century structures (Bibliographic reference). SKE6362.

<2> Coad J 1982 Historic Architecture of Chatham Dockyard 1700-1850 Greenwich National Maritime Museum (OS Card Reference). SKE39025.

<3> Preston J M 1977 Industrial Medway an historical survey (OS Card Reference). SKE48656.

<4> Victoria County History Kent 1908 2 338-386 (OS Card Reference). SKE51249.

<5> Anon, c.1690, A draught of the River Medway, 1690 (Chart). SWX9272.

<6> Anon, 1760, River Medway, 1760 (Chart). SWX9277.

<7> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9423.

<8> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9424.

<9> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9510.

<10> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9573.

<11> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9574.

<12> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9745.

<13> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9747.

<14> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9750.

<15> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9751.

<16> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9752.

<17> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9755.

<18> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9846.

<19> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9847.

<20> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9870.

<21> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9883.

<22> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9884.

<23> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9885.

<24> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9887.

<25> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9888.

<26> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9889.

<27> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9890.

<28> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9891.

<29> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9895.

<30> 1945, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9896.

<31> 1944, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10020.

<32> 1944, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10021.

<33> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10396.

<34> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11122.

<35> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11123.

<36> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11124.

<37> 1975, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11127.

<38> 1975, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11131.

<39> 1977, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11132.

<40> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11136.

<41> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11137.

Sources and further reading

Related records