chatham dockyard old apprentices

[136] The new development has retained the name Kitchener Barracks. 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. [9] In the years that followed the ground was prepared, accommodation was secured and in 1570 a mast pond was installed. For the first two years of his apprenticeship, he moved through the different ships, Brian recalled, and in his third year the skipper taught him, he said. Kent ME4 4TZ, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is a Registered Charity No. From projects focused on . When Royal Dockyard Chatham closed in 1984 the Ministry of Defence removed all records still held on site. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, North Mast Pond, 1702. [35] During World War I, twelve submarines were built here, but when hostilities ceased, uncompleted boats were scrapped and five years passed before a further ship was launched. Brewer: August 1980 August 1982. Chatham (1567-1983) Deptford (1513-1869) Plymouth - from 1824 known as Devonport Dockyard (1690-present) . Do you remember Chatham Naval Dockyard when it was in its prime? But he likes to remember the time he bet a colleague 1 to jump in the water wearing the sacks. [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'). Do you visit the Dockyard now? He says the dockyard here was a lot more relaxed than in Chatham. 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. The following terms appear in the records of pay: Click on the links below to search for a yard name, for example Woolwich, within the following series: Try searching by name or, otherwise, keyword in the various Navy Board records held inADM 106(1650-1837). Amusingly, they rigged the draw, Keith says, so their friend would win. It is, Commissioner's Garden dating from 1640. Elgar Curling, who was 16 at the time, said: We all still get on a like house on fire. I remember being in awe of the sheer size of it and the amount of hustle and bustle that was all about. ), 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. The 'old boys' who were recorders in the Dockyard and still meet up for a pint. dailyinfo[16]=' 56932 Serjeant William Philip WATSON Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal 58th Field Amb Royal Army Medical Corps who died 16/04/1918 TYNE COT MEMORIAL Belgium ' A fifth dry dock (No 9) was added in 1895 on the north side of No 1 Basin, opposite the other four, to accommodate the new, larger battleships which were then under construction. In the event, those defences were built in distinct phases, as the government saw the increasing threat of invasion:[126]. Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. If you walk into the Union Rooms on a Friday afternoon you'll meet all manner of people. Joe May, 86 shared his memories of the Dockyard, Keith Dowrick, 82 told reporter Molly Dowrick some of his memories from the Dockyard, Royal Navy joins European allies on crucial Baltic mission, Plymouth's nickname 'Guz' and the reasons behind it, Live: Huge fire breaks out at industrial unit outside Looe, As many as eight fire crews are understood to be on the scene, Woman fumes over Lidl store towering above her garden, The retired nurse said a Wickes DIY store is doing similar, blocking the sun and warmth. if (dailyinfo[daym] != "") { document.write(fontstart+dailyinfo[daym]+fontend) } Chatham's yard was split in two, the area south of the Storekeeper's House becoming an Army Ordnance Store, and the rest a Navy Ordnance Store. 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. He said: The training was excellent. 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. The records covered are for yards in the UK and abroad. 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. [16], Peter Pett, of the family of shipwrights whose history is closely connected to the Chatham dockyard, became commissioner in 1649. 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. This building retains it original structure and roof glazing. We regret that The Historic Dockyard Chatham is unable to carry out personal research on your behalf. Brunel Saw Mill 1814. dailyinfo[10]=' 837119 Gunner Alexander BROOKS Military Medal "A" Bty. The Pay Office was moved here in 1750 from Hill House. 09:00 to 17:00. Twelve houses built for senior officers in the Dockyard. It includes Papersafe UK[43] and Nordic Recycling Ltd.[44] In 2013 Peel Ports, which owns and runs Chatham Docks, announced that it was set to convert a 26-acre (0.11km2) portion of the commercial port into a mixed-use development (incorporating offices, an education facility, apartments, town houses and a food store (Asda), as well as landscaped public areas). 20,900 were here. 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). 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. Nonetheless, the dockyard closed, as planned, on 31 March 1984.[40]. It was 50 years ago these former Chatham Dockyard apprentices met for the first time. The barracks were set to close in 1961 when the majority of naval personnel were withdrawn from Chatham;[142] however, it went on to serve instead as the RN Supply and Secretariat School in succession to HMSCeres, before finally being closed along with the Dockyard in 1984. These are the first standardised industrial buildings. Regards Roger Haffenden. 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. He first started his apprenticeship when he was sent to the ropery on his first day by accident. Div Royal Marine Light Infantry who died 05/05/1915 HELLES MEMORIAL Turkey (including Gallipoli) ' 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. When a new boss joined the recorders' division in the 1970s, he informed the employees 'You will all wear ties,' said John. Anchor Wharf Store Houses 17781805 (at nearly 700 feet [210m] long) are the largest storehouses ever built for the navy. In the years of peace after 1815 Chatham continued to serve as a major embarkation port for troops serving overseas. Similar but smaller blocks to the north and south housed ancillary services, such as the pay office, infirmary and Quartermaster's stores. I became so attached to the place,(My Home Port!) Most significantly, Chatham's first dry dock was opened in 1581 (for repairing naval galleys). When the . Captain Sir Thomas Bourchier, 20 September 1846 5 May 1849, Rear-Admiral A.L. 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. She said plans to upgrade her garden, part of her retirement after 38 years in the NHS, have now been put on hold, People with these 57 health conditions can get more than 400 a month from DWP, The support is available to millions of people, Plymouth Civic Square improvements are starting to take shape. 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.. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. [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]. dailyinfo[29]=' 4547 Lance Corporal Albert FERGUSSON 1st Bn. dailyinfo[20]=' 3/1423 Private John QUINN 2nd Bn. The indenture was a contract signed by the apprentice, the parent / guardian and the Admirality on satisfactory completion of a 3 month probation period. dailyinfo[19]=' Second Lieutenant Robert Charles Middleton HARPER General List who died 19/04/1917 JERUSALEM MEMORIAL Israel and Palestine (including Gaza) ' The man did, John says, and told his boss he had a hacksaw between his teeth so he could fish for swordfish. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is committed to helping the public who have enquiries about our collections. The Trust is preparing an application for the Dockyard and its Defences to become a World Heritage Site. Nobody ever had it as good as we did - and nobody will ever have it as good as we did.". Now, around ten 'old boys' meet every six weeks in the Union Street Wetherspoon to laugh about the old times. 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. For Terry Hoare being an apprentice shipwright at Chatham Dockyard 60 years ago were the best days of his life. Those for the officers were placed in a single row on elevated ground to the east, accessed from the parade ground by way of a double ramp; they provided housing for two field officers, twelve captains and thirty-seven subalterns. [10], The renowned Tudor shipwright Mathew Baker was appointed to Chatham in 1572 (though he was primarily based at Deptford). Medway Council offices and car park now stand on the site. 3 Slip). There was an annual intake of some 300 boys between 15 and 16 years old in two intakes September and January. From projects focused on Dockyard workers to the tragedies suffered during the First World War, we are building up a picture of the role and impact the Dockyard has had over four hundred years. Also, after a reunion in 1993 at Gravesend Rowing Club, Terry said the whereabouts of two of the attendees, John Doggett and Ted Leftley, is now unknown. else { document.write(fontstart+"No major events today"+fontend); }