Chatham Dockyard has a historic presence in the Medway towns. Many would argue it shaped Medway as we know it. It provided jobs for so many residents and is part of many of Medway residents’ history. Many families have stayed in Medway due to being employed here, and in my own family many generations worked in the Dockyard.
Chatham is one of three major dockyards in the UK alongside Plymouth and Portsmouth. Although Chatham Dockyard isn’t active today as a dockyard, Portsmouth and Plymouth are still fully functioning. Chatham Dockyard is now used by many in the surrounding areas for educational and recreational purposes.. It has many things to offer for the family, and hosts many exhibitions and events of all kinds,the next being Monsters of the Deep.
The Dockyard has a vast array of boats for you to see. For example HMS Gannet (1878), HMS Cavalier (1944) and HMS Ocelot (1962). You are able to go onboard the boats, historic warships and submarines and explore them. You can see a vast array of boats including lifeboats.
The Dockyard has a lot of history outside the sea including a ropery, which has been functional for over 400 years. You can visit today and see one of four naval Ropeyards still in function. The rope making happens daily, using traditional techniques.
The Dockyard includes 47 scheduled ancient monuments and ancient buildings. This includes a clock tower dating back to 1723. Many of these buildings have featured in popular films and TV series, for example The Mummy (1999), Bridgerton (2020) and Call the Midwife (2012). The Dockyard offers tours of the Call the Midwife locations and from 28 April 2023 the dockyard is expecting a tour and gallery of props, costumes and sets.
Chatham Dockyard is an important landmark to Medway and is an integral part to the town. I believe that is has more to offer than people realise and isn’t utilised as much as it should be.
