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Did you or your family, work there on the ships? You are in: Kent > History > Chatham Historic Dockyard > Your memories. [143], Media related to Chatham Dockyard at Wikimedia Commons. After the war's end, they went on to serve as a gunpowder store for a time, and were used by the Royal Engineers (based nearby in Brompton Barracks). It has been Grade I listed since August 1999. [35], In February 1958 it was announced in Parliament that Sheerness Dockyard would close in 1960, with Nore Command (and its Chatham-based Commander-in-Chief) to be abolished the following year. In 1812 the Royal Engineers Establishment was founded within the barracks to provide instruction in military engineering. [48], Chatham Dockyard has become a popular location for filming, due to its varied and interesting areas such as the cobbled streets, church and over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. Read more: All the latest news from Medway. There was an Army hospital at Chatham too. Terry left a secondary school in Hoo with qualifications in metal work and technical drawing and, like many boys of his age, enrolled for apprenticeship at the yard, classed as one of the best in the world. It was a very sad day for me when the Dockyard closed but I still have many fond memories of my time spent as a Dockyard Matey. The Dockyard apprenticeships were some of the best in the UK. A Dockyard Apprentice's Story: Hard graft, scrapes and japes on the (The covering of Chatham's slipways and dry docks, to protect the woodwork of ships as they were built or repaired, had begun with No 2 Slip and No 1 Dock in 1817). The oldest surviving barracks in the Chatham area is in Upnor; dating from 1718, it housed the detachment of 64 men responsible for guarding the gunpowder store in Upnor Castle. After the abolition of the post of Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, Chatham's Admiral Superintendent took on the additional role of local Flag Officer (with local command responsibilities) and the title Flag Officer, Medway. "It was all about companionship and camaraderie really," added Keith. [120], After the demise of the Board of Ordnance (1855), Ordnance Yards passed under the control of the War Office, and were eventually (in 1891) apportioned to either the Army or the Navy. The senior official of a Royal Navy dockyard was the commissioner, who was supported by other senior officers including: Clerks and foremen, known as inferior officers, supported the senior officers. [24] By 1861, No 1 Dock had been filled in and a machine shop constructed in its place for heating, bending and planing armour plate for HMS Achilles which was being built alongside. 1st Floor North, Fitted Rigging House [122] A few later buildings have survived: a long brick shed of 1805, southwest of the Command House, which once housed carpenters, wheelwrights and other workers as well as stores of various kinds,[123] the adjacent building (machine shop, late-19th century) which now serves as a public library, and the building known as the White House (built as the Clerk of the Cheque's residence in 1816). The Historic Dockyard Chatham: Views of a former apprentice 45 years on ! [39] Redundancy notices were served, but then abruptly withdrawn following the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands; the dockyard was heavily involved in preparing ships for the South Atlantic, and in repairing damaged vessels on their return. [1] The painting, now in the National Maritime Museum, provides a detailed illustration of the yard as it was in the Age of Sail; many of the buildings and structures illustrated survive: William Camden (15511623) described Chatham dockyard as, stored for the finest fleet the sun ever beheld, and ready at a minutes warning, built lately by our most gracious sovereign Elizabeth at great expense for the security of her subjects and the terror of her enemies, with a fort on the shore for its defence.[2]. By chance, about 4 or 5 years ago, while on rota on the Visitor Operations team at The Historic Dockyard Chatham I had a conversation with a visitor who had been the Master of HL7025 in service. Click on the series references in the table below to browse the record descriptions by year ranges: Visit the National Maritime museum Caird Library website for other sources. These were designed by Captain, No 7 Slip is one of the earliest examples of a modern metal, No 2 Dry Dock 1856 was built on the site of "The Old Single Dock" where HMS, No 3 Dry Dock 1820, the first to be constructed of stone, was designed by, No 4 Dry Dock 1840 was built on the site of one of a parallel pair of docks built in 1686 (the second of which was converted into the adjacent slipway, No. Something that really sets our city apart is our historic dockyard and the thousands of amazing and hard-working people that have worked there over the years, each contributing to the largest naval base in Western Europe in different ways. Chatham Dockyard ledgers: employees, apprentices, etc . [32] (The older slipways, by contrast, were proving much too small and they were mostly filled in around this time, their covered areas being put to alternative uses.) He said: The training was excellent. WIPS & CSR TEAM - Handing over of Old clothes, Books & Toys To Tata Power Mahila Bachat Gat - 20.01.2022. My Grandad had already retired by the time the Dockyard was due to close, but I remember me, my mum and dad going down to Devenport to see the Dockyard there as my dad was thinking of relocating us down there. Use our catalogue to search within the records series listed below. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. He said: It was second to none. We, as a family, would travel up from East Kent to attend the dockyard when they had a 'Navy Days' event. I was on board HMS Hermoine when she left the yard for the last time, I was one of the guests of honour, a great experience for a young lad of 15. " Productions that have chosen to film at Chatham Dockyard include: Les Misrables,[49] Call the Midwife,[50] Mr Selfridge,[51] Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,[52] Oliver Twist,[53] The World Is Not Enough [54] and Grantchester. The development is called "Chatham Waters". Two years later the project was largely complete, with facilities provided alongside for gun mounting and mast rigging, as well as a victualling depot and a coaling area. Chatham Dockyard workers reunion | Greetings to all the Chatham Dockyard Apprentices that began their long journeys 65 years ago on the 10th September 1956 and are . Old royal dockyard hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy [140] Built within the defensive earthworks to the north of Chatham, St Mary's Barracks was demolished in the 1960s and the land used for housing. [138], A barracks was built in Brompton from 1804 to 1806 for the Royal Artillery gunners serving on the defensive Lines (previously they had been accommodated in the Infantry Barracks). Camaraderie and companionship was important to all Dockyard employees, the boys say. It is, Commissioner's Garden dating from 1640. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust holds very few records for either Naval or Dockyard Personnel. The Establishment grew, and by 1856 the Artillery had moved out; Brompton Barracks remains in service as headquarters of the Royal Engineers. We were one large family. PDF The history of - Microsoft Now at the age of 77, there's nothing he'd like more than to meet up with the lads whom he forged a close bond with as teenagers to talk about old times. Additionally required were the blockmakers, caulkers, pitch-heaters, blacksmiths, joiners and carpenters, sail makers, riggers, and ropemakers (274), as well as bricklayers, labourers and others. . Three decades after the last tradesmen laid down their tools, three ex-workers tell their story. He was Collingwood Battalion RND. When the first Labour budget in eighteen . He stated that in his experience 7025 was the best HL he served on. Great days out, can still smell the hot dog stand with its fried onions. Chatham Dockyard and its Defences is an outstanding example of a complete industrial military complex from the heyday of the age of sail (1700 - 1820) and the early period of the age of steam (1820- 1865). Bob recalls: In the second year we were given the job of building the Dockyard entry for the 1965 Southsea Carnival which was based on the old woman who lived in a shoe.. A further 3,000 troops could be accommodated in times of "total emergency" (900 were sleeping in the Drill Hall when it suffered a direct hit from two bombs in September 1917, which killed over 130 men). There was space for some 500 horses and 1,000 men. dailyinfo[1]=' 61365 Private James LAVIN 1st Garrison Bn. Chatham Dockyard Apprentices The grandfather-of-three said: Apart from working together, we used to go out to nightclubs together where most of us met our partners.. I remember being in awe of the sheer size of it and the amount of hustle and bustle that was all about. Most significantly, Chatham's first dry dock was opened in 1581 (for repairing naval galleys). dailyinfo[28]=' 76274 Corporal Horace John Baker WHITTINGHAM 1st Bn. Poland, 5 September 1950 May 1951, Rear-Admiral John Y. Thompson: October 1958 February 1961, Rear-Admiral I.William T. Beloe: February 1961 December 1963, Rear-Admiral George M.K. However, it was not unusual for officers to move between the the Navy Board and the Board of Admiralty over the course of their career. The ropery. The ponds were connected by canal. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? dailyinfo[30]=' 35346 Private Stuart Bathurst Scott COATES 13th Bn. that I have asked my family to see that my ashes are scattered on the Medway besides the Dockyard,using a trip on the Paddlesteamer-"Kingswear Castle" to carry out this task. 3 Slip). The boys would notice lots of people walking past the phone box, and if someone answered the random call, the group's friend would shout: "Nosy parker!" A lot of the 'boys' worked in the dockyard for over thirty years, from the 50s to 80s, but still remember their times fondly, as if they were last week. Saw HMS Jamaica of Bismarck fame and I believe we saw HMS Manxman too in which a friend's uncle had served during WW2. The decision established Chatham as the country's premier naval industrial complex; nevertheless, concerns were already being raised over its river being prone to silting. I still sometimes wonder if my name I painted on a beam in the apprentice building with a 6" brush is still there. Dockyard Church 1806. At the time of its closure the dockyard covered 400 acres (1.6km2). So the boys did, they wore ties. [20], Dockyards have always required shore defences. If you walk into the Union Rooms on a Friday afternoon you'll meet all manner of people. [36] The victualling yards, however, continued to be practically independent. Diamond, one of the Navy's Daring Class Destroyers which was in Dry Dock in one of the Basins. [20] The docks varied from 160ft (49m) to 186ft (57m) in length. Historic Dockyard Chatham | Chatham - Facebook It really did feel like one big family with a happy atmosphere. // Stop Define Variables for days of the month Chatham Historic Dockyard | Historic England 20,900 were here. Rifle Brigade who died 09/05/1915 RATION FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA CHAPELLE-DARMENTIERES France' The oldest surviving naval storehouse in any Royal Dockyard. When Royal Dockyard Chatham closed in 1984 the Ministry of Defence removed all records still held on site. Co Live Sunrise Narendra 1, Purnima Niwas, 3rd Main Rd, Doddanekundi, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560037, India. The Pay Office was moved here in 1750 from Hill House. A lot of the group chose early retirement when the opportunity arose in the 90s and were looked-after with a salary, allowance and pension, they say. In the years of peace after 1815 Chatham continued to serve as a major embarkation port for troops serving overseas. Another top story for the boys is the countless times in 1960s and 70s when their friend would randomly phone a phone box on the site, says Keith Dowrick, 82 from Keyham. dailyinfo[25]=' 1720 Private Sidney ORDERS 1st Bn. Another member of the group, John Gibson, 79 from Southway, joined the dockyard as an apprentice in September 1955. seaJane11 June , 2020 in Sailors, navies and the war at sea. [11] The first ship to be built at the dockyard, a 10-gun pinnace named HMS Merlin (or Merlyon), was launched in 1579. "Ted was living in the Maidstone area at the time and I know he joined the fire service after leaving the dockyard.". dailyinfo[17]=' 79947 Sapper Andrew WATT 173rd Tunnelling Coy. dailyinfo[15]=' 6963 Private Albert CHRISTIE 1st Bn. In 1832 the post of commissioner was replaced by the post of superintendent, who was invested with the same power and authority as the former commissioners, "except in matters requiring an Act of Parliament to be submitted by the Commissioner of the Navy". As some victualling yards also changed their names, you may need to search foralternative names: Click on the links below to search for a yard namewithin series: Gun wharves, where ships guns were stored, were the responsibility of the Ordnance Board. The tarring process declined as, Iron Foundry 185561. Anchor Wharf Store Houses 17781805 (at nearly 700 feet [210m] long) are the largest storehouses ever built for the navy. dailyinfo[3]=' 3747 Flight Serjeant Reginald Tom PARRY Air Force Medal 15th Aircraft Acceptance Park Royal Air Force who died 03/05/1919 WELSH NEWTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD United Kingdom ' Canadian Infantry who died 07/05/1917 VIMY MEMORIAL France ' The group has met regularly over the years celebrating their time at Chatham together. I'd hold it anywhere, even in my own home. Welsh Regiment who died 30/04/1916 MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY France ' [127] Externally, all the blocks were similar in appearance. Chatham dockyard closed in 1984, and 84 acres (34ha) of the Georgian dockyard is now managed as the Chatham Historic Dockyard visitor attraction by the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. Bob Chalmers, from Warminster . [128], Within the space of 20 years, Chatham Barracks had taken on an additional role as the Army Dept of Recruits and Invalids: accommodating 'a mixed mass of people, viz. [27], To meet the new demands of building in iron, metal mills were built alongside the smithery in 1845, containing rolling machinery and furnaces for reprocessing iron. In 1832 the Navy Board was abolished and all yards and establishments, except gun wharves, were amalgamated under a single authority. Three ex-Chatham Dockyard workers Brian Jenkins, Barry Stevens and John [127] The Infantry Barracks went on to serve as a home depot for numerous regiments. How the military presence developed after 1820, showing how the need for housing gave birth to New Brompton, and showing roads and railways. There were two routes to entry. See our research guides on Royal Navy ratings and Royal Navy warrant officers for more information. It was somewhat unfortunate that, on the one occasion when it was required for actionthe Raid on the Medway, 1667the Dutch fleet were able to sail right past it to attack the English fleet and carry off the pride of the fleet, HMS Royal Charles, back to the Netherlands. Cashiers' Office 18th century. It came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional defences. I am 82 years of age and was a Naval Shipwright Apprentice (Dockyard number 21413) in Chatham Dockyard from 1941 until 1945. Built on the site of what had been the convict prison, the barracks complex could accommodate 4,742 officers and seamen in a series of large blocks built along the length of a terrace. [30] Work on the other docks and basins followed, with No 3 Basin finally being completed in 1883. dailyinfo[13]=' Gefreiter Richard STROEBER 12./R.I.R.22 German Army who died 13/04/1918 ERQUINGHEM-LYS CHURCHYARD EXTENSION France ' that I have asked my family to see that my ashes are scattered on the Medway besides the Dockyard,using a trip on the Paddlesteamer-"Kingswear Castle" to carry out this task. John said: "The dockyard gave you a good life. Junior Apprentices The Dockyard School between the Wars Apprentices in Wartime Introduction of Group Training of Apprentices Whitworth . dailyinfo[5]=' CH/316(S) Private Jack WILSON Chatham Bn. In almost all cases you can only search by yard or ships name, not by a persons names. ). We can either copy our records onto paper or deliver them to you digitally, Visit us in Kew to see original documents or view online records for free, Consider paying for [17] In 1686 two new dry docks were built, in addition to the old single and double dry docks; all four were rebuilt and expanded at various points in subsequent centuries (the double dock having been converted into a single dock in 1703). RMG48F6T - Second year apprentices of Babcock Royal Dockyard in Rosyth (l/r) Craig Miller, Leona Reid, Eileen Mallan and Eric Axford, hold aloft the new budget box (right) which they made for their local MP Gordon Brown, and the old Gladstonian case favoured by just about every one of his predecessors since the 1860, at the Treasury today (Weds). Initially a purpose-built 'steam factory' was planned, but following the closure of Woolwich Dockyard in 1869 a number of slip covers were removed from that site and re-erected at the head of the new dry docks to serve as factories for building and fitting engines and for boilermaking. The escalating Anglo-Dutch wars forced their hand, however: several temporary buildings were hastily erected in Sheerness, at the mouth of the Medway, to enable ships to re-arm, re-victual and (if necessary) be repaired as quickly as possible. Discover some of the amazing objects found at the Dockyard. )[119], A plan of 1704 shows (from north to south) a long Storehouse parallel to the river, the Storekeeper's house (the Storekeeper was the senior officer of the Yard) and a pair of Carriage Stores. He first started his apprenticeship when he was sent to the ropery on his first day by accident. "It's a nice crowd of boys, it's fun being here," says group member Joe May, 86 from Torpoint. Visit Of 26th Sub LT Tech (LOG) Course of SriLankan Navy on 22 . He was a shipwright apprentice at Flathouse Apprentice Training Centre with about 30 others. The surviving records for dockyard workers tend to be various kinds of records of pay, including muster books (but not after the mid-19th century) and pension records. Any pointers would be much appreciated. Amazingly, a group of Plymouth grandads meet every six weeks at the pub to catch-up with each other, remember their friends who are no longer here and reminisce about the incredible camaraderie they experienced in the dockyard. A good many were engaged in manning the defences, but some had other duties; others were accommodated there for convenience prior to embarking on ships for duties overseas, or following their disembarkation. The site was expanded and rebuilt in the 1860s; in 1905 the Royal Marines took over Melville Barracks, which stood between Dock Road and Brompton Hill (it had formerly served as Chatham's Royal Naval Hospital). One of the boys' favourite moments is the time they bent the new uniform rules. [132], A Royal Commission of 1861 (set up in the wake of the Crimean War to improve the sanitary condition of Britain's Army barracks and Hospitals)[133] was scathing in its judgement of facilities at Chatham; in the years that followed several alterations were made to Chatham Barracks (which had changed little over the preceding century): an additional storey was added to several of the barrack blocks to help alleviate overcrowding, and new buildings were inserted among the old, containing improved facilities for cooking, washing and recreation. The project has enabled a sustainable future for one of the Dockyards most important Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The project also includes ADM 354 and ADM 359; these records are at the National Maritime Museum. [10], From the very start of the 18th century, however, Chatham began to be superseded in both size and importance, first by Portsmouth, then Plymouth, when the main naval enemy became France, and the Western approaches the chief theatre of operations. New positions were created such as inspector of steam machinery, as steam factories were attached to major yards. Chatham Dockyard workers reunion | Greetings to all the Chatham The group formed in 1990 as a six-monthly reunion for a group of nineteen Dockyard recorders who had retired and wanted to catch up with each other and share their stories, but some of the group only joined 18 months ago. Prices may vary with room occupancy and attributes. Though I have been on visits it's just not the same!" South Staffordshire Regiment who died 01/05/1920 KRANJI MILITARY CEMETERY Singapore ' The first steam-powered ship to be laid down at Chatham was HMS Phoenix, one of four paddle steamers built concurrently across the royal dockyards in the early 1830s, each designed by a different leading shipwright. [9] In the years that followed the ground was prepared, accommodation was secured and in 1570 a mast pond was installed. [20] Holl's smithery was itself enlarged with the addition of a foundry in the 1850s, and its courtyard was roofed over for a steam hammer shop in 1865. CSC 10 for marks and results of examinations of dockyard and artificer apprentices from 1876; Board of Trade papers (1846-1895) Find references to apprenticeships in the indexes to papers . Money was only made available for one such installation, however, and Chatham (as the principal building yard at this time) was chosen as its location. The military hospital at Chatham at Fort Pitt. He says the dockyard here was a lot more relaxed than in Chatham. We are currently exploring alternative, hidden histories within our collection and looking at broadening the range of voices we represent. [121] Most of the 18th-century buildings were demolished, with the exception of the Storekeeper's House of 1719, which survives as the Command House public house. Crash Out On Cavalier Overnight Stay Experience. Saw HMS Jamaica of Bismarck fame and I believe we saw HMS Manxman too in which a friend's uncle had served during WW2. Three times a year hundreds of youngsters left school at 15 to start life as apprentices, many in the 'yard. Do you visit the Dockyard now? I spent a couple of nights in the dormitory blocks, before joining Diamond and had a lot of laughs. When Achilles, for example, had been completed and floated out of dry dock, she spent almost a year moored in Gillingham Reach, where not only her engines, boilers, funnels and a 2.5-long-ton (2.54t) propeller, but also masts, sails, rigging, guns, coal, food, ammunition and furnishings were either loaded or installed. John also remembers calling his friend, who worked as a cleaner, the nickname 'Horse's head,' so whenever he was on a big ship, they'd call out 'Oi, Horses's head' to make him jump. If either yourself, a friend or relative has a story they would like to share with us, we would love to hear it. I was going to leave that bit about Trafalgar out, but their Town Mayor, whose English was better than my French, picked it up and told them anyway. - Nicola, Chatham, "I entered the Dockyard on the 5th May 1967 as a Pattern Maker Apprentice. In the event, those defences were built in distinct phases, as the government saw the increasing threat of invasion:[126]. How to look for records of Royal Naval dockyard staff