Sheerness remained operational as a royal dockyard until 1959, but it was never considered a major shore establishment and in several respects it operated as a subsidiary yard to Chatham. [30] Work on the other docks and basins followed, with No 3 Basin finally being completed in 1883. Last used in 1981. As no muster books survive after the mid-19th century you will need to consultsalary and pension records for dockyard workers after that period. Nowhere in the world is it possible to see such an intact naval dockyard for the building and maintenance of the ships of the sailing navy as at Chatham. [15] (The old site was in due course transferred to the Ordnance Board, who established the gun wharf there.) The 'old boys' who were recorders in the Dockyard and still meet up for a pint. Charles Dickens (18121870), who had grown up in Chatham, returned in later life and described in 1861 the novel sight (and sounds) of a ship being built for the first time of iron (rather than wood): Twelve hundred men are working at her now; twelve hundred men working on stages over her sides, over her bows, over her sterns, under her keel, between her decks, down in her hold, within her and without, crawling and creeping into the finest curves of her lines wherever it is possible for men to twist. We collect and preserve objects related to the Dockyards past and also carry out specific research into the Dockyards rich and varied history. Remembered Today: However, as some men worked in both the dockyards and aboard ships across the course of their naval career, it is sometimes also worth looking for records of individuals, especially skilled workers (artificers or tradesmen), in Royal Navy records (as administered by the Admiralty Board). Built immediately to the north of the Smithery (the intervening space was later infilled with the Smithery extension of 1867). It made do with a single shipbuilding slip for much of the 17th century (a second slip, dating from the same period, had fallen out of use; it was replaced in the 1730s). Constructed from timber recycled from warships probably from the. In September 1969, the young men enrolled on technical apprenticeships at the 'yard'. dailyinfo[19]=' Second Lieutenant Robert Charles Middleton HARPER General List who died 19/04/1917 JERUSALEM MEMORIAL Israel and Palestine (including Gaza) ' [25] For the time being, however, marine steam engines were not manufactured on site but were ordered from Thames-based private contractors (along with other associated equipment). Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? Over 414 years Chatham Royal Dockyard provided more than 500 ships for the Royal Navy, and was at the forefront of shipbuilding, industrial and architectural technology. Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 1731), visiting the yard in 1705, also spoke of its achievements with an almost incredulous enthusiasm: So great is the order and application there, that a first-rate vessel of war of 106 guns, ordered to be commissioned by Sir Cloudesley Shovell, was ready in three days. In spite of this in June 1981, it was announced to Parliament that the dockyard would be run down and closed in 1984. Historic Dockyard Chatham | Chatham - Facebook During their time together, he and his colleagues gelled and enjoyed years of "tomfoolery" and were sometimes reprimanded by trainers for their pranks. 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). The tarring process declined as, Iron Foundry 185561. The weekend event was organised by Tony Gray, who at 66 is still working part-time as a consultant. 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. var fontend = '' Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry who died 20/04/1915 YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL Belgium ' I spent a couple of nights in the dormitory blocks, before joining Diamond and had a lot of laughs. It's easy! Co Live Sunrise Narendra 1, Purnima Niwas, 3rd Main Rd, Doddanekundi, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560037, India. 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!" Not long afterwards a large new single-storey Carriage Store, with a long frontage parallel to the river, was constructed, adjoining the Storekeeper's House to the south. [20], In 1897 a new, even longer dry dock was opened on the north side of No 1 Basin: at its opening, this (No 9 Dock) was the largest in the world at 650ft (200m) long by 84ft (26m) wide. dailyinfo[17]=' 79947 Sapper Andrew WATT 173rd Tunnelling Coy. The Trust is preparing an application for the Dockyard and its Defences to become a World Heritage Site. In the interwar years, eight S-class submarines as well as X1 were built at Chatham but this was a period of decline. It also has been Grade I listed since August 1999. Twelve hundred hammerers, measurers, caulkers, armourers, forgers, smiths, shipwrights; twelve hundred dingers, clashers, dongers, rattlers, clinkers, bangers, bangers, bangers![4]. Greetings to all the Chatham Dockyard Apprentices that began their long journeys 65 years ago on the 10th September 1956 and are still standing,as well as those before and after. R.N. Thereafter this was divided into three sections: 80 acres (0.32km2), the 18th century core of the site, was transferred to a charity called the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. He said: "It's proving difficult because they are not on social media. Chatham Dockyard workers reunion | Greetings to all the Chatham He was Petty Officer Evan Thomas Ellis MZ205. [14], The decision required the dockyard to move from its original location, which was too constricted, to a new (adjacent) site to the north. It really did feel like one big family with a happy atmosphere. BBC - Kent - History - The workers 10,499 / mo*. Designed by Edward Holl, it has a gallery supported on cast iron columns, one of the first uses of cast iron in the dockyard. I am 82 years of age and was a Naval Shipwright Apprentice (Dockyard number 21413) in Chatham Dockyard from 1941 until 1945. R Cock and N A M Rodger, A guide to the naval records in The National Archives of the UK (London 2006). The boys even achieved ISMs, Imperial Service Medals - but what really stays in their memories, they say, is the 'camaraderie' and the laughter. 3 Slip). This aerial photograph shows the dry docks at Chatham Dockyard. Published 12th Mar 2018, 19:00 BST - 2 min read. The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment) who died 15/04/1915 CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY France ' He says for the first three months of the apprenticeship he was given no tools and distinctly remembers the big 'awful sacks' [overalls] they used to wear. [42], The easternmost basin (Basin No 3) was handed over to the Medway Ports authority and is now a commercial port (Chatham Docks). The ponds were connected by canal. Junior Apprentices The Dockyard School between the Wars Apprentices in Wartime Introduction of Group Training of Apprentices Whitworth . When young Robert started there in 1958, the docks employed 6000 people on a two-mile long site encompassing hundreds of workshops, offices and storehouses as well as its own police . It was envisaged that Basin No 1 would serve as a "repair basin", No 2 as the "factory basin" and No 3 as the "fitting-out" basin; a newly launched ship could therefore enter via the west lock, have any defects remedied in the first basin, have her steam engines and heavy machinery installed in the second, and then be finished, and loaded with coal and provisions, in the third before leaving via the east locks. [9] In the years that followed the ground was prepared, accommodation was secured and in 1570 a mast pond was installed. There were two routes to entry. The records do not cover every yard in every year. There was space for some 500 horses and 1,000 men. More recent records are available from the Ministry of Defence via their website. The storehouse would have furnished ships with such necessary consumables as rope, pulleys, sailcloth and timber. Brian and John remember their Devonport Dockyard wage: 2 6s 2d a week (about 2.32), with no overtime for apprentices, but said at the time they were well looked after. Read more: All the latest news from Medway. Published 15 June 2021. Nicholas, South Africa, last updated: 26/03/2009 at 15:36created: 26/03/2009. We are currently exploring alternative, hidden histories within our collection and looking at broadening the range of voices we represent. It was 50 years ago these former Chatham Dockyard apprentices met for the first time. [20], View down the length of the former No 7 Dock towards No 1 Basin (now Chatham Marina), Remains of No 8 Machine Shop with No 1 Boiler Shop behind it, Dock pumping station (its 80ft chimney, formerly on the plinth to the right, has been removed), The Commissioner of Chatham Dockyard held a seat and a vote on the Navy Board in London.