They were the good old days,but,it is still a wonderful place to go and visit, I go often. Alongside the four dry docks it now had a total of six shipbuilding slips (equalling Deptford and outnumbering the other yards in this regard), albeit three of the six were under 150ft (46m) in length and suitable only for building smaller warships. Apprenticeships in HM Royal Naval Dockyard, Chatham. var month=mydate.getMonth()+1
The military hospital at Chatham at Fort Pitt. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? var daym=mydate.getDate()
The tarring process declined as, Iron Foundry 185561. We understand that memories of this nature can be challenging and sometimes uncomfortable to talk about. My grandad was an electrician working on the submarines and my dad was an engineer. These were built to a standard design with bays 45 by 20 feet (13.7 by 6.1m). 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. 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. My son got good qualifications and worked in Formula 1 racing. Thus deliveries of victuals, ordnance and other supplies were made by small boats, sailing regularly between Chatham and The Nore. It is, Commissioner's Garden dating from 1640. [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. North Mast Pond, 1702. dailyinfo[26]=' Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Gordon CADE Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross and Bar, Three times Mentioned in Despatches Middlesex Regiment who died 26/04/1918 TYNE COT MEMORIAL Belgium '
It really did feel like one big family with a happy atmosphere. And the men remember they had quite a strict deadline on a Friday afternoon. The ground floor were built as offices, the first floor contained reception rooms with bedrooms above. 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. Nobody ever had it as good as we did - and nobody will ever have it as good as we did.". [27] It was partly to address this problem that the Admiralty undertook a huge building programme at Chatham, between 1862 and 1865, which quadrupled the size of the yard and provided specialist facilities for steam-powered ships with metal hulls. [110], On 5 September 1971 all Flag Officers of the Royal Navy holding positions of Admiral Superintendents at Royal Dockyards were redesignated as Port Admirals. ", Keith added: "I liked all our antics, [in the dockyard] you had to have a sense of humour.". 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. Now complete, the project provides a new accessible Reading Room and much improved conditions for our books and archive collections, alongside new volunteer and conservation facilities. The first was by exam and accounted for about 125 apprentices and what was called the . seaJane. The White Yarn House to store the yarn before it was tarred to prevent rot. I later worked on such ships as HMS Lincoln, Warspite, Spitfire, Torquay, Hebe, Vidal, Hydra and many many more. He spent two years learning basic skills before going on "float" learning his trade of welding, machine fitting and repairs on board ships based in the basins and dry docks. if (dailyinfo[daym] != "") { document.write(fontstart+dailyinfo[daym]+fontend) }
All of these Apprentices are bound to Masters whose names and trades are also included. The following year a forge was built for anchor-making. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust cares for over 70,000 objects in its collection ranging from archaeology, rigging, hand tools, machinery to fine art and photography. Another member of the group, Brian Booker, 76, moved to Plymouth from Chatham in the South East and joined the dockyard in 1984, working there for six years before taking early retirement to care for his wife. Thanks seaJane. He said: It was second to none. The project also includes ADM 354 and ADM 359; these records are at the National Maritime Museum. [20], No 1 Basin was officially opened in 1871, with HMS Invincible being brought into No 5 Dock for repairs, with great ceremony. NOSTALGIA: The mysterious case of the disappearing Portsmouth Guildhall, When Purbrook had three pubs within 100 yards - Nostalgia. [31] In 1897 a naval barracks was built on the site of the prison to provide crew accommodation for ships anchored in The Nore; for the next sixty years it served as the headquarters of Nore Command, whose Commander-in-Chief was accommodated in the adjacent Admiralty House. Tributes paid to Plymouth 'local celebrity', Well-known Plymouth resident Ted Nott passed away with his family by his side, Olly Murs breaks down on stage as he dedicates song to late friend Caroline Flack, Olly expressed regrets about not being there for his late friend, who passed away in February 2020, Marks and Spencer to extend stay at Derriford Hospital, Permission asked for to allow Simply Food store to stay for another ten years, A38 closures included in this week's Plymouth roadworks notices, The following roadworks are taking place in Plymouth this week, Inside Plymouth's comic book shop where you can escape real life, Final Frontier say they have something for everyone in their store, Plymouth Gladiators start Championship campaign after superby BSN series win over Poole Pirates. Rifle Brigade who died 09/05/1915 RATION FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, LA CHAPELLE-DARMENTIERES France'
[20] Much of the excavation and building work had been done by convict labour (a convict prison having been built to the north of the dockyard, with the expansion project in mind, in 1853). Has it changed for the better, or were those really the "good old days"? 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. [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. R.N. dailyinfo[13]=' Gefreiter Richard STROEBER 12./R.I.R.22 German Army who died 13/04/1918 ERQUINGHEM-LYS CHURCHYARD EXTENSION France '
Proposals were made for a fourth Basin of 57 acres (230,000m2), together with additional large docks of up to 800ft (240m), to cover the remaining land on St Mary's Island; but these were soon superseded by plans to build an entirely new dockyard at Rosyth. He was admitted to Chatham Hospital on 30th June 1915 but doesnt specify RNH. The Great War Forum Limited 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). [16], Peter Pett, of the family of shipwrights whose history is closely connected to the Chatham dockyard, became commissioner in 1649. The group would welcome any recorder from the Dockyard who would like to join the group. All these developments were to come together with the construction of HMS Achilles, in a newly expanded No 2 Dock, between 1860 and 1864: the first true iron-hulled battleship to be launched in a royal dockyard. 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. So the boys did, they wore ties. On March 31, 1984, Chatham Dockyard closed its doors forever, ending 414 years of history. This is the oldest surviving naval building in England. Under its remit, the westernmost (No 1) Basin was turned into a marina, part of the former factory area to the south was transformed into an entertainment and retail complex ('Chatham Maritime') and the former Barracks (HMS Pembroke) became Universities at Medway. var day=mydate.getDay()
Recommended Posts. "Ted was living in the Maidstone area at . At the time of its closure the dockyard covered 400 acres (1.6km2). . In 1812 the Royal Engineers Establishment was founded within the barracks to provide instruction in military engineering. It really did feel like one big family with a happy atmosphere. Coordinates: 512350N 003140E / 51.39722N 0.52778E / 51.39722; 0.52778 Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, 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 . The project has enabled a sustainable future for one of the Dockyards most important Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Read more: All the latest news from Medway. Initial enquires are responded to within 28 days. They went to work the day after the new rule, with 'no shirt and no vest'. New positions were created such as inspector of steam machinery, as steam factories were attached to major yards. "It was all about companionship and camaraderie really," added Keith. 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. This was a somewhat unusual apprenticeship as we were required to sign on with the Royal Navy for twelve years from the age of eighteen, part of which was to complete a 4 year apprenticeship in Chatham Dockyard. v3.0, Coopers and Labourers, 1797-1816, yard unknown, Caulkers, Coopers and Ropemakers, 1798-1831, Registers of protections from being pressed, 1794-1815, Civil Establishment of Admiralty and Navy Board (including yard officers), 1694-1832, clerk of cheque and storekeeper responsible for finance and administration, master shipwright responsible for building and repairs, master attendants and boatswain supervised yard craft and boats in ordinary (on reserve), master ropemaker responsible for the ropeyard, the agent victualler (in larger establishments only), Plymouth from 1824 known as Devonport Dockyard (1690-present), Pembroke Dockyard at Pembroke (1815-1947), Jamaica Dockyard also known as Port Royal (c.1675-1905), Kingston Dockyard on Lake Ontario, Canada (1788-1853), Penang Island part of modern day Malaysia also known as Prince of Wales Island (1800s), Port Mahon Dockyard on Minorca (1708-1802). [15] (The old site was in due course transferred to the Ordnance Board, who established the gun wharf there.) [125], With the failure of Upnor Castle, it was seen necessary to increase the defences. But he likes to remember the time he bet a colleague 1 to jump in the water wearing the sacks. dailyinfo[23]=' 20589 Corporal Elias JONES Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal and Bar 14th Bn. If you have memories of Chatham in the Dockyard's heyday then tell us your stories. Bob Chalmers, from Warminster, Wiltshire, was part of the September 1964 intake and he is hoping to organise a reunion. [38], The closure of Chatham Dockyard (along with the adjacent Naval Barracks) was announced in Parliament in June 1981 and scheduled to take place in 1984. One of the boys' favourite moments is the time they bent the new uniform rules. [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. We worked together from 7am to 4.30pm and earned 2, 13 shillings and two pence a week.". He says: When Victory unfortunately lost its licence those of us who were still part of the broadcasting team decamped for a wake to the unofficial Radio Victory registered office known locally as the The Eldon Arms where much-loved mine hosts Terry and Jean Little helped us drown our sorrows.. This information will help us make improvements to the website. He has two sons Samuel, 35, and Lloyd, 39, who went into engineering. [41] The Georgian site is now a visitor attraction under the care of the Trust: Chatham Historic Dockyard. *Denotes starting price exclusive of GST. 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.