chatham dockyard old apprentices

Some dockyards have changed their name so you may need to search using the alternative names or the dockyard locations provided in above and in the appendix (you can also browse seriesADM 42 to get an idea of what dockyards are covered by the records). In spite of this in June 1981, it was announced to Parliament that the dockyard would be run down and closed in 1984. [9] In the years that followed the ground was prepared, accommodation was secured and in 1570 a mast pond was installed. [134] In 1865, following the opening of new and enlarged hospital facilities in Fort Pitt, the old Garrison Hospital was closed; its buildings (on what is now Maxwell Road) were converted into barracks and named 'Upper Chatham Barracks'[135] (later 'Upper Kitchener Barracks'). Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. This information will help us make improvements to the website. A group of local men meet every six weeks and reminisce of a bygone era, Get the latest nostalgia features and photo stories straight to your inbox. They lived in Chatham, in Old Brompton, some in Rochester and Strood, but by far the greatest number in New Brompton and Gillingham, and the similarity of much of that district to a Midland or Northern industrial town was due to dockyard workers many of whom had come from the North. The project has enabled a sustainable future for one of the Dockyards most important Scheduled Ancient Monuments. By 1611 Chatham had been chosen as its location (in preference to Deptford, which at the time was the nation's principal naval shipbuilding yard; this led to speculation that Deptford was going to be sold off). Each has an 18th-century, Main gatehouse 1722, designed by the master shipwright in the style of. 10,499 / mo*. Ten new community-led, affordable homes for local people. The yard would have received, stored and issued cannons and gun-carriages (along with projectiles, accoutrements and also all manner of small arms) for ships based in the Medway, as well as for local artillery emplacements and for army use. Did you or your family, work there on the ships? He says the dockyard here was a lot more relaxed than in Chatham. [55], The Captain of the Dockyard's House and flagstaff, Double Ropewalk and Black Yarn House to right, The Victorian Steam Yard was built around three large Basins (wet docks), constructed between 1865 and 1885 along the line of St Mary's Creek (separating St Mary's Island from the mainland). Thanks seaJane. "Ted was living in the Maidstone area at the time and I know he joined the fire service after leaving the dockyard.". Chatham Historic Dockyard | Historic England He stated that in his experience 7025 was the best HL he served on. Hawkins' chain was later replaced with a boom of masts, iron, cordage, and the hulls of two old ships, besides a couple of ruined pinnacles. [34] Also with the 20th century came the submarine. 1st Floor North, Fitted Rigging House 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. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence While they retained command over the naval personnel on site, and responsibility for the base as a whole,[114] their oversight of the work of the dockyard was transferred to new civilian Dockyard General Managers, who had management responsibility across all Departments. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? 09:00 to 17:00. The records do not cover every yard in every year. research. ), The final boats constructed in Chatham were Oberon-class submarines Ocelot was the last vessel built for the Royal Navy, and the final vessel was Okanagan built for the Royal Canadian Navy and launched on 17 September 1966. 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.. [25], In 1811, Marc Brunel recommended the installation of steam-powered sawmills in the royal dockyards, to replace the manual labour of the saw pits. Also, is it definitely RNH? Australian Field Artillery who died 14/04/1917 GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY France ' Some post-1920s service records for dockyards personnel are held by the Ministry of Defence. Documents are usually arranged by yard, so for most searches it is vital to know the name of the yard where the person worked. Its one areaof my Grandfathers medical evacuation from Gallipoli via Malta that I cannot find anywhere. The Historic Dockyard Chatham: Views of a former apprentice 45 years on ! [119], Chatham Infantry Barracks was opened in 1757 to house troops manning the fortifications which had recently been built to defend the Dockyard. 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. Collections at The Historic Dockyard Chatham Went to Navy Days, both as a toddler with my parents and later as 8-10 yr old with school friends. The site was first used in 1547, but its busiest period was in the 19th century when 2 ships every year were being launched. Both my Grandad and my Dad worked there. These were built to a standard design with bays 45 by 20 feet (13.7 by 6.1m). Brunel Saw Mill 1814. The Dockyard apprenticeships were some of the best in the UK. 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. dailyinfo[7]=' 467436 Corporal Alexander CAMERON Military Medal 29th Bn. - David, Germany, "From 1980-1984 I sold newspapers on board all the ships that docked in the yard, I was a young lad of 11 when I started, and only stopped after my father was transferred to Plymouth Dockyard in 1985. Similar but smaller blocks to the north and south housed ancillary services, such as the pay office, infirmary and Quartermaster's stores. I have a copy of his Army Form 103 Casualty Form that traces his movement from CCS in Gallipoli to RNH Malta (although Im not sure which one but probably Bighi) back to UK but after that Ive drawn a blank. One barrack block remains from 1757; the rest was largely demolished and rebuilt to a more modern design in the 1930s50s. "We made sure he won," Keith said, "He won a chicken, a live chicken, he didn't know what to do with it! We, as a family, would travel up from East Kent to attend the dockyard when they had a 'Navy Days' event. dailyinfo[8]=' 1473 Private Arthur EDDINGTON 1st/13th Kensington Bn. . dailyinfo[23]=' 20589 Corporal Elias JONES Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal and Bar 14th Bn. [24] Among other things, the use of iron in ship construction enabled larger vessels to be built, and between 1836 and 1851 Chatham gained five new covered slipways, much larger in scale than the ones they replaced. 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. var daym=mydate.getDate() dailyinfo[14]=' 29919 Gunner Eric William BENJAFIELD 5th Bde. Published 12th Mar 2018, 19:00 BST - 2 min read. As no muster books survive after the mid-19th century you will need to consultsalary and pension records for dockyard workers after that period. dailyinfo[17]=' 79947 Sapper Andrew WATT 173rd Tunnelling Coy. Early History of the Royal Yards and the original Dockyard of Chatham chap 1 1 The New Dockyard 7 Ship List, 1586- 1660 13 Notes on the Rating and Tonnage of Ships 15 Estimate of Costs for a 3rd-rate 16 . For England this will usually mean one ofthe following six Royal Navy dockyards (the years in brackets are opening and closing dates): The Royal Navy also had dockyards in Wales, Scotland and Ireland: There were other Royal Navy dockyards and naval establishments overseas including: See the National Maritime Museum Caird Librarywebsite for another abridged list of dockyards. They were the good old days,but,it is still a wonderful place to go and visit, I go often. We, as a family, would travel up from East Kent to attend the dockyard when they had a 'Navy Days' event. The Marines were withdrawn from Chatham in 1950, and the buildings were later demolished. 'The apprenticeship at Chatham Dockyard is the finest in the world - if you stick to it, the world's your oyster' Robert Smith's dad told his teenage son. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. 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. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. I became so attached to the place,(My Home Port!) Alternatively, search The National Archives Library to see what is available to consult at Kew. At its height, it employed over 10,000 skilled artisans and covered 400 acres (1.6km2). How the military presence developed after 1820, showing how the need for housing gave birth to New Brompton, and showing roads and railways. See our research guides on Royal Navy ratings and Royal Navy warrant officers for more information. [115], An Ordnance Yard was established in the 17th century immediately upriver of the Dockyard (on the site of the original Tudor yard, vacated in 1622). Some older yard pay books and muster books are archived at The National Archives at Kew. During their time together, he and his colleagues gelled and enjoyed years of "tomfoolery" and were sometimes reprimanded by trainers for their pranks. They may still be with the rest of the modern Defence archives at Swadlincote. ", Keith added: "I liked all our antics, [in the dockyard] you had to have a sense of humour.". CHDT Researchers - Apprentices [21] Building works at Chatham did not compare with the substantial expansions underway at Portsmouth and Plymouth at this time; but the southern part of the yard was significantly redeveloped, with construction of two new storehouses on Anchor Wharf and a major reconfiguration of the ropery. [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. Three decades after the last tradesmen laid down their tools, three ex-workers tell their story. Additional flight to evacuate Britons from Sudan today, Tributes paid to singer Gordon Lightfoot following death, Marks &Spencer to close stores in May - full list of closures, HMV to reopen original flagship store after four year closure, Mller recall Cadbury desserts because of Listeria contamination, Nurses strike continues: Major disruption for NHS services in England. 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.