Chatham Dockyard: Difference between revisions

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*[[Daniel Defoe]] 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. At the time the order was given the vessel was entirely unrigged; yet the masts were raised, sails bent, anchors and cables on board, in that time''.
 
 
==Significant buildings within the Georgian Dockyard<ref name=THDC>The Historic Dockyard Chatham-where, legends were created. Guide Book. 2005. Jarrold Publishing</ref>==<!-- much dockyard vocaulary is unique and all links need to be checked and DABs created -->
* The [[Galvanising]] Shop c1890. Galvanising is a process of dipping [[steel]] in molten [[zinc]] to prevent it from [[rust]]ing. There were baths of [[acid]] and molten zinc, the [[fumes]] vented through louvres in the roof. It is currently used as a visitors centre.
* [[Wheelwright]]'s shop c1780. This three bay building was built as a [[mast]] house using 'reclaimed' timber. The top bay was used by the wheel wrights who constructed and repaired the wheels on the dockyard carts, and may have made ships wheels. The middle bay was used by the [[pumpmaker]]s and the coak and [[treenail]] makers. Pumps were simple affairs, made of wood with [[iron]] and [[leather]] fittings. Coaks were the bearings in pulley blocks, and treenails were the long oak pins, made on a [[lathe]], or ''[[moot(lathe)|moot]]'' that were used to pin the planking to the frames. The west bay was used by the [[capstan]] makers, capstans were used to raise the anchor.
* [[Masthouse]]s and [[mould(woodenships)|mould]] loft 1753-8. Masthouses were used to make and store masts. Here there are 7 interlinking masthouses. Above them is the mould loft where the lines of [[HMS Victory]] were laid down. The lines of each frame of a ship would be taken from the plan and scribed full size, into the floor by shipwrights. From this patterns or moulds would be built using softwoods, and from these the actual frames would be built and shaped. This building houses the 'Wooden Walls Exhibition'.
* The covered slips 1838-55. It was on [[slipway]]s that ships were built. The slipways were covered to prevent ships rotting before they had been launched. The earliest covered slips no longer exist. By 1838 the use of [[cast iron|cast]] and [[wrought iron]] in buildings had become feasible. The oldest slip had a wooden roof, three had cast iron roofing and the last used wrought iron. They are of unique importance in the development of wide span structures such as were later used by the [[railway]]s.
** No 3 Slip 1838. This had a [[linked truss structure]] and was originally covered in [[Tarred Paper]], which was quickly replaced with a zinc roof. The slip was backfilled around 1900 and a steel [[mezzanine]] floor was added.It became a store house for ships boats.
** No 4, 5 and 6 Slips 1848. These were designed by Capt. Thomas Mould RE and erected by Bakers and sSons of Lambeth. Similar structures were erected at [[Portsmouth]] but these are no longer extant. They predate the [[London]] [[Train shed]]s of [[Paddington]] and [[King's Cross]] which were often cited as the countries first wide span metal structures.
** No 7 Slip, is one of the earliest examples of a modern [[metal trussed]] roof.. It was designed in 1852 by Col G.T.Green RE. It was used for shipbuilding until 1966, [[HMS Ocelot]] was launched from there 5th May 1962.
* [[Dry Dock]]. The docks are filled by [[sluice gate]]s set into the [[caisson]]s, and emptied by a series of underground [[culvert]]s connected to the [[pumping station]].
**No 2 Drydock 1856 was built on the site of 'The Old Single Dock' where [[HMS Victory]] was constructed. In 1860, this dock constructed [[HMS Achilles]], the first iron [[battleship]] to be built in a Royal Dockyard.
**No 3 Drydock 1820 the first to be constructed of stone, was designed by [[John Rennie]]. It now houses [[HMS Ocelot]].
**No 4 Drydock 1840 now houses [[HMS Gannet]].
* South Dock Pumping Station 1822, designed by [[John Rennie]]. It originally housed a [[beam engine]], this was replaced by an [[electric]] [[pump]] in 1920. The building is still in use.
* No 1 Machine Shop. This building retains it original structure and roof glazing. It was used to house the [[machine tools]] needed to produce [[HMS Achilles|Achilles]], the first iron [[battleship]] built in a Royal Dockyard.
* Clocktower building 1723. The oldest surviving naval storehouse in any Royal Dockyard. The ground floor was a 'present use store' and the upper floor was a [[mould loft]]. It was rebuilt in 1802- the [[Weatherboarding|timber cladding]] was replaced by brick. In the 20th century it was used for offices, and was adapted in 1996-7 to become the [[University of Kent]]'s [[Bridge Warden's College]].
* [[Admiral]]'s Offices 1808. Designed by Edward Holl as offices for the master [[shipwright]]. The roofline was low so it would not obstruct the view from the Officers' Terrace. Later it became [[Port Admiral]]'s office and was extended. The northern extension became the dockyard's communication centre.
* [[Commissioner's House]] 1704. This is the oldest surviving naval building in England. It was built for he Resident Commissioner, his family and servants. The previous building was built in 1640 for [[Phineas Pett. In 1703, [[Captain George St Lo]] took up the post and petitioned [[the Admiralty]] for a more suitable residence. Internally the principal feature is the main staircase with its painted wooden ceiling attributed to [[Thomas Highmore]], to sketches by [[Sir James Thornhill]].
* Commissioner's Garden dating from 1640. The lower terraces are one of the first [[Italianate Water Gardens]] in [[England]]. There is a 400 year old [[Mulberry]] Tree, from where [[Oliver Cromwell]] reputedly watched the [[Roundhead]] Army take [[Rochester,Kent|Rochester] from the [[Royalists]]. There is a eighteenth century [[Ice House]] and a [[Edwardian]] [[Conservatory]] with its Great [[Vine]].
* [[Assistant Queens Harbourmaster]]'s Office c 1770. The main entry to the dockyard in the age of sail was the [[Queen's Stairs]], this office was built alongside. In 1865, the whole of the tidal [[Medway ]] from [[Allington|Allington Lock]] to [[Sheerness]] was designated as a dockyard port and the Assistant Queen's Habourmaster was responsible for all moorings and movements.
* Thunderbolt Pier, a pier named after [[HMS Thunderbolt]], built 1856, which was used as a floating [[pierhead]] from 1873 until 1948, when she was rammed and sunk.
* [[Anchor Wharf]] Store Houses 1778-1805 are the largest storehouses ever built for the navy.
** The southern building, Store House No 3, completed in 1785, is subdivided with timber lattice partitions as a 'lay apart store' a store for equipment from vessels under repair.
** The northern building was used as a fitted rigging house, and a general store for equipment to fit out newly built ships.
* The Fitted Rigging House is now used as the [[Library]] and [[Museum of the Royal Dockyards]]. It contains many collections and the original [[Chatham Chest]].
* The [[Ropery]] consists of [[Hemp]] Houses (1728 extended 1812), Yarn Houses and a double Rope House with attached [[Hatchelling]] House. The Ropery is still in use being operated by Master Ropemakers Ltd.
** The Double Rope House has [[spinning]] on the upper floors and ropemaking ( a [[ropewalk]]) on the ground floor. It is 346m (1135 ft) long, and when constructed was the longest brickbuilt building in Europe capable of laying a 1000ft [[rope]]. <!-- Imperial measures essential here -->Over 200 men were required before 1836, to make and lay a 20in (circumference) [[cable]]. All was done by hand. [[Steam power]] in the form of a [[beam engine]] was introduced in 1836, and then [[electricity]] in the early 1900s.
** The White Yarn House to store the yarn before it was tarred to prevent rot.
** The [[Tar]]ring House with its [['Tar Kettle']] and [[horse]] drawn [[winch]].
** The Black Yarn House to store the tarred yarn. The tarring process declined as [[manila]] replaced [[hemp]], and [[sisal]] replaced manila. These fibres were chemically protected at the [[hatchelling]] stage and tarring stopped in the 1940s
* Chain Cable Shed c 1900, built to protect newly manufactured [[anchor]] [[chain]]. It is supported by a row of 28 captured [[French]] and [[Spanish]] guns.
* [[Lead]] and [[Paint]] Mill 1818. Designed by Edward Holl to be fireproof. There was a lead [[furnace]], [[cast]]ing area and steam powered double [[rolling mill]], paint mills for grinding pigment, [[canvas]] stretching frames, and vats for storing and boiling [[linseed oil]]. A [[warship was painted every 4 months.
* Main gatehouse 1722, designed by the master shipwright in the style of [[John Vanbrugh|Vanbrugh]]. It bears the arms of [[George III]]. Inside was the [[muster bell]].
* Guard House 1764. Built when [[Marines]] were introduced into the Dockyard to improve security.It continued in use till 1984.
* Dockyard Church 1806. Designed by Edward Holl it has a gallery supported on cast iron columns, one of the first uses of cast iron in the dockyard. Last used in 1981.
* Stables. For Officers' horses.
*Sail and Colour Loft 1723. Constructed from timber recycled from warships probably from the [[Dutch Wars]]. Lower floors were for storage, and the upperfloor is a large open space for sail construction. In 1758 there were 45 [[sailmaker]]s. They sewed 2 ft strips of canvas i nto the sails using 108 to 116 stitches per yard.<!-- Imperial measures essential here -->. Flags denoting [[nationality]] and for [[signal]]s were made here.
** The first [[Union Flag]] is reputed to have been designed here {citation needed}
** The Flags used by [[Nelson]] in his 'England expects..' message would have been made here.
* Captain of the Dockyard's House 19C.
* Cashiers' Office 18C. John Dickens, father of [[Charles Dickens]] worked here from 1817-1822. It is still used as offices.
* Officers' Terrace 1722-3. Twelve houses built for senior officers in the Dockyard. The ground floor were built as offices, the first floor contained reception rooms with bedrooms above. Each has a [[18C walled garden]], which again are now very rare. They are now privately owned.
* [[Joiner]]s Shop c. 1790 originally to make treenails, but later used by the yards joiners.
* House [[Carpenter]]s' Shop c 1740. Built to harmonise with the officers terrace. House Carpenters worked solely on maintaining the dockyard buildings.
* No 1. [[Smithery]]. 1808. It was designed by Edward Holl, for production of [[Anchors]] and [[Chain]]. Anchors could weigh 72 cwt <!-- Imperial measures essential here -->(3657Kg), and were forged by hand. [[Anchorsmiths]] were give an allowance of 8pts<!-- Imperial measures essential here -->of strong beer a day, because of the difficult working conditions.
* Timber Seasoning Sheds 1774. These were built to a standard design with bays 45ft (13.7m) by 20ft (6.1m). <!-- Imperial measures were used in the design -->These are the first standardised industrial buildings. There were 75 bays erected at Chatham Dockyard, to hold three years worth of timber.
* Brunel Saw Mill 1814. Until 1814 timber was cut by pairs of men, one above and one below the log. In 1758, there were 43 pairs of [[sawyer]]s working in the yard. In 1812 ca the [[sawmill]] was designed by Marc Brunel, father of [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]. The mill was driven by [[steam]]. The mill was linked to the mast ponds by a mechanical timber transport system, and underground canals. Later the basement was converted into a steam [[laundry]].
* The Mast Ponds. 1697,1702. [[Fir]] logs were [[seasoning|seasoned]] by immersing them in [[salt water]] while the [[sap]] died back.
** South Mast Pond 1697. Now a car park.
** North Mast Pond,1702. The ponds were connected by canal.
* Lower boat House c1820 built as a storehouse for squared timber, and later to store ship's boats.
 
 
 
==Defence of the dockyard==
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The officers and men employed in the yard also increased, and by [[1798]] they numbered 1664, including 49 officers and clerks and 624 [[shipwright]]s. Additionally required were the blockmakers, caulkers, pitch-heaters, [[blacksmith]]s, [[joiner]]s and [[carpenter]]s, sail makers, [[rigger]]s, and [[ropemaker]]s (274), as well as [[bricklayer]]s, labourers and others.
 
When the Dockyard closed in [[1984]] its final task had been that of refitting [[nuclear reactor|nuclear]] [[submarine]]s. [[HMS Hermione]] was the last ship launched from there.
 
The dockyard covered 400 acres (1.6 km²). After closure this was divided into three sections. The easternmost basin was handed over to the [[Medway Ports Authority]] and is now a commercial port. Another slice was converted into a mixed commercial, residential and leisure development. 80 acres (324,000 m²), comprising the 18th century core of the site, was transferred to a charity called the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and is now open as a visitor attraction.
[[Image:Julia&Basin.JPG|300px|thumb|TopsailSchoonerJulia|The Topsail Schooner Julia visiting the middle basin in 2006, behind her you can see the [[St Mary's Island, Kent|St Mary's Island]] housing estate.]]
'''[[St Mary's Island, Kent|St Mary's Island]]''', a 150 acre site, once a part of the Dockyard has been transformed to a residential community for some 1500 homes. It has several themed areas with traditional maritime buildings, a fishing village with its multicoloured houses and a modern energy-efficient concept. Many homes have views of the River Medway. A primary school (St. Mary's CofE) and a medical centre provide facilities for the residents and there are attractive walks around the Island.
 
==References==
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==See also==