The original station was renamed sheerness dockyard and connections were made with the royal navy establishment. The dockyard closure led to thousands of job losses, and most of the nearby houses and shops in the bluetown area were eventually abandoned and demolished. British merchant east indiaman general goddard 1782 26 thursday 7th of may 2020 21. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Chatham dockyard historical society is involved in discussions with chatham historic. Edward holl, civil architect to admiralty, and his successor george ledwell taylor, are thought to be responsible for the designs of. The dockyard church at sheerness on the isle of sheppey in kent, england. It has stood guard as a defence for the dockyard at chatham and the city of london since the 1800s.
Mar 31, 2010 sheerness dockyard was one of the bases for the royal navy as it protected british waters in the north sea. Established in chatham in the mid16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring gillingham at its most extensive, in the early 20th century, twothirds of the dockyard lay in gillingham, onethird in chatham. The floods of january 31st 1953, the worst in uk since the turn of the century, created unprecedented tide levels the effect of a stormy and persistent ne wind from the north sea and a king tide. Pdf sheerness naval dockyard garrison download ebook for. The royal naval dockyard was the centre of activity for the preparation of ships for battle. The sheerness branch line opened on 19 july 1860, from sittingbourne to, at first, a station in the blue town area of sheerness, close to the southern edge of the royal navy dockyard. Jan 31, 2007 film made for seasheppey 2006 by anton french for big fish arts trust. Sheerness dockyard also known as the sheerness station was a royal navy dockyard located on the sheerness peninsula, at the mouth of the river medway in kent. Redundancies at sheerness were spread over several months until the naval dockyards closed permanently in march 1960. Sheerness dockyard, 16651960 originally built for storing and refitting. Conceived primarily for the repair and maintenance of naval ships, there was one small. Established in chatham in the mid16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring gillingham at its most extensive, in the early 20th century, twothirds. In 1883 a further station was added at sheernessonsea, accessed by a reversing curve from the original station, which was renamed sheerness dockyard. John rennie was the engineer who surveyed and designed the new dockyard for sheerness, which was completed by his son after his death.
Visiting the former naval dockyard at sheerness today it seems strange to think that. Sheerness dockyard, 1899 read 7172 times 0 members and 1 guest are viewing this topic. For a long time the dockyard workers and their familys in sheerness lived in hulks in the estuary but the conditions inside were very poor, each worker was allowed to carry a piece of wood, no longer than three foot and which could be carried on one shoulder out of the dockyard, its from these chips that they built cabins to live in. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of sheerness.
Pdf andrew and kearns 2005 note that despite increasing interest. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Spotlight on sheerness dockyard dockyard house dockyard house is a substantial late georgian mansion, built to accommodate the superintendent of the naval dockyard and his family c. The grade ii listed church stands within sheerness royal naval dockyard and blue town conservation area, and was built in 18268 for dockyard workers and service personnel. Abstract abstract uk data service and data collection owner. It owes its inception to king henry viii who, in 1547, selected the river medway at gillingham. Sheerness war memorial is designated at grade ii for the following principal reasons. A short history of sheerness dockyard the isle of sheppey, some nine miles long and half as wide, lies on the southern side of the thames estuary and is separated from the north kent coast by a narrow channel of the sea called the swale. The surgeons role in the nineteenthcentury royal dockyards. Construction and commissioning urgent was originally constructed by c.
The frame relies on joint stiffness rather than bracing for its stability, and is 210ft long, 5ft wide and 53ft high. Cc014 trams crossing the defensive moat to blue town and the dockyard, sheerness. She served her later years as a storeship and depot ship based in jamaica. It owes its inception to king henry viii who, in 1547, selected the river medway at gillingham to be his main fleet anchorage. Since 2000, when the society organised a tour of sheerness dockyard, it has been actively engaged with the isle of sheppey and sheerness heritage societies in protecting the surviving heritage of the dockyard. In just under three centuries, over 300 vessels were built at devonport, the last being hms scylla in 1971. Hmnb devonport wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Royal dockyards, surgeon, royal navy, healthcare, dockworkers. It closed in 1970, and was used as a sports hall and store before suffering a devastating fire in 2001. It was taken over by the medway port authority and by 2002 was the largest port for motor imports in the uk. Sheerness dockyard i will admit that it was probably at least 75% lt bush which took me to sheerness on sunday morning, after a saturday spent on the waverley on the thames and medway plus about 20% historical interest and 5% plain liking for going to the ends of the earth. Contentsshow design between 1766 and 1780 the admiralty had 25 vessels of her class built to a design by sir john williams. The history of the dockyard reflects its strategic location on the western tip of the isle of sheppey, where the thames and medway rivers converge and spill into the north sea.
On 17 september 17 2014 the newly formed sheerness dockyard preservation trust opened the church to 400 visitors. In march 1960 the royal navy ceased operating the sheerness dockyard and the medway port authority took over the site for commercial use. An island rich in fascinating history sheerness dockyard. Oct 10, 2017 sheerness dockyard i will admit that it was probably at least 75% lt bush which took me to sheerness on sunday morning, after a saturday spent on the waverley on the thames and medway plus about 20% historical interest and 5% plain liking for going to the ends of the earth. Holls 1810 plan for royal dockyard chapel, sheerness tna the 1826 map of the dockyard as it was in 18 shows a chapel with a very similar footprint to the present church on a site roughly in the middle of the yard as laid out by rennie, adjacent to the small section of blue town to the west of the high street that was cleared and incorporated in the new yard. Sheerness dockyard was, i believe, built by french prisonersofwar in the 19th century. Download sheerness naval dockyard garrison in pdf and epub formats for free. Dr william gunn md was appointed to sheerness dockyard in june 1855. At woolwich, one of the two yards closed in 1859, the former dockyard area has long since been redeveloped. The works, a private venture under canadian ownership, commenced operation in november 1972, and was designed to recycle scrap cars into steel coils. Sheerness dockyard initially functioned as an extension to that at chatham and it was overseen by chathams resident commissioner for much of its early history. Garrison point fort, sheerness garrison point fort was built in the 1860s as part of the royal commisions recommendations for improvement of existing fortifications on the medway. The history press a short history of sheerness dockyard. Sheerness war memorial, swale 93518 historic england.
Sheerness was once one of the oldest naval dockyards in the uk until it closed in 1960. Beyond this, however, permission must be sought for viewing or entry into a great range of historic buildings that include the dockyard church 1787, naval academy 172932, commissioners house c. As more ships were added to the royal fleet the work of the dockyard was increased, until it was deemed necessary to build a small castle to protect the yard and. The town extended away from the dockyard and mile town came into existence. A busy scene on sheerness sea front with ladies promenading, thames barges tied up along side the jetty and dockers operating a steam driven crane. Sheerness naval dockyard garrison book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. Sheerness dockyard dates back to king charles ii, who reigned england, scotland, and ireland from 1660 to 1685.
Sheerness naval dockyard has been added to your basket add to basket. The former dockyard station site closed to public goods traffic on 6th may 1963, at which time both the original station building and goods shed were still standing. The dockyard began in what is now known as the south yard area of devonport. It is listed grade ii and stands within sheerness royal naval dockyard and blue town conservation area. Sdpt handed out questionnaires to canvass opinion for its future use, such as studios for small businesses and creative industries, a cafe, performancerehearsal space, a heritage display and housing for the 1820 40 x 40ft dockyard model commissioned by john rennie for its. Initially, sheerness dockyard functioned as an extension to that at chatham and was overseen by chathams resident commissioner for much if its early history. Apparently the model was updated during building works cant remember how long for. Sheerness dockyard church was built in 1828 as part of the comprehensive redevelopment of the sheerness royal naval dockyard between 181830. Following the departure of the royal navy, just five years short of the 300th anniversary of the base, the site was taken over by the medway port authority for commercial use. The dockyard at sheerness, completed in 1823, and grafted, if one may use the expression, upon the trunk of its pepysian predecessor, is that which exists, developed in various ways, at the present time. Sheerness dockyard was one of the bases for the royal navy as it protected british waters in the north sea.
In 1883 a further station was added at sheerness onsea, accessed by a reversing curve from the original station, which was renamed sheerness dockyard. A new charity, the sheerness dockyard preservation trust. It began life as a fort to defend the entrance to the river medway, but was destroyed in june 1667 by an attack from the dutch fleet during the second anglodutch war. But in the 1970s when sheerness dockyard no longer wanted it and a home couldnt be found it was passed to the dept of works who became english.
Sheerness was not granted the status of town until the end of the 19th century, until that time it had been a part of minster parish. Chatham continued as a naval dockyard until it closed in 1984 when the site became a naval museum. Since roman times, this was a point of defense against naval attacks, as well as a port for even the largest vessels. Chatham dockyard was a royal navy dockyard located on the river medway in kent. This rn presence was retained when british forces withdrew from singapore in 1971, and us navy and five powers defence arrangements ships that use this dockyard except for those of the republic of. As more ships were added to the royal fleet the work of the dockyard was increased, until it was deemed necessary to build a small castle to protect the yard and anchorage from attack. Sheerness dockyard also known as the sheerness station was a royal navy dockyard. Sheerness became the largest port in the uk for the motor imports. Serious research into the history of royal naval dockyards began in the 1960s, initially as an. It forms a strategic point at the far north of the isle sheppey, within the boundary of sheerness docks. Entire dockyard rebuilt to a single design by john rennie jnr in 181526. This fourstorey structure at sheerness dockyard is a very early example of a multistorey, iron framed building. Sheerness dockyard was a royal navy dockyard located on the sheerness peninsula, at the mouth of the river. Sheerness dockyard sheerness dockyard does not rival either in its importance or its strategic situation the naval establishments, which i have so far dealt with, although there was a time when the thames and the medway held a greater place in our naval organisation than even portsmouth or plymouth.
Hms fly was a swan class ship sloop of the royal navy and was launched on 14 september 1776. In this weeks edition of country life magazine there is a 3 page artical on a 1820 model of sheerness dockyard. Sheerness dockyard church glevum heritage business. The station building was swiftly demolished, but the goods shed lingered on, and. Coads book the royal dockyards, 16901850, where further information on the history of. She foundered and was lost with all hands early in 1802. The royal navy left sheerness in 1960 and since then major losses of dockyard heritage have occurred, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. Trains continued to stop at both sheerness dockyard and sheerness onsea stations stations until december 1914 as trains were required to run into sheerness dockyard and then reverse into sheerness onsea. Chatham, harwich, sheerness, kinsale, devonport, pembroke dock. The monument is one of few memorials to remember civilian losses suffered during the first world war, in particular those who lost their lives in air raids. Conditions improved, mains water being installed in 1863. My only criticism is that i would have liked to have seen some maps and plans of the dockyards development over the years, although there are a couple of revealing aerial views.
The history of chatham dockyard has been an eventful one. Pdf download sheerness naval dockyard garrison free. From 2005 until 2011 the society was actively involved in opposing the inappropriate planning applications concerning the georgian naval officers residential quarter. Books and journals sheerness the dockyard defences and blue town, 1995, 1 coad, j g, the royal dockyards 16901850. Edward holl, civil architect to admiralty, and his successor george ledwell taylor, are thought to be responsible for the designs of the main brick buildings.
The spitalfields trust sheerness naval dockyard and. Conceived primarily for the repair and maintenance of naval ships, there was one small exception no shipbuilding took place there until 1691. Film made for seasheppey 2006 by anton french for big fish arts trust. Architecture and engineering works of the sailing navy, 1989, 107 rennie, j, the formation and construction of british and foreign harbours, 1851. Nov 11, 2009 sheerness war memorial is designated at grade ii for the following principal reasons. A short history of sheerness dockyard the history press. Jan 20, 2020 sheerness dockyard also known as the sheerness station was a royal navy dockyard located on the sheerness peninsula, at the mouth of the river medway in kent. Trains continued to stop at both sheerness dockyard and sheernessonsea stations stations until december 1914 as trains were required to run into sheerness dockyard and then reverse into sheernessonsea. May 26, 2017 the original station was renamed sheerness dockyard and connections were made with the royal navy establishment. Sembawang dockyard in the former hmnb singapore hms sembawang still has rn personnel based in a building in what is now a civilian dockyard. The dockyard followed suit twenty years later, becoming devonport royal dockyard. Photographs and history of the royal naval establishment at sheerness. Hms urgent was an iron screw troopship of the royal navy.
Contentsshow design between 1766 and 1780 the admiralty had 25 vessels of her class built to a design by sir john. Humphreys, 23 november, 1939 20 january, 1940 and as commander of dockyard, vice moore captain alban e. She performed mainly convoy escort duties during the french revolutionary wars, though she did capture three privateers. Here is a brief look at the rn there in 1958 and latter day sheerness. The condition of other dockyard buildings such as the grade i listed boat store continues to cause us concern. It was conceived primarily for the repair and maintenance of naval ships. Mar 10, 2004 sheerness dockyard was, i believe, built by french prisonersofwar in the 19th century. Also being constructed by mare at this time was a nearsistership to assaye, the russian sobraon. Sheerness dockyard lies on the western tip of the isle of sheppey, off the north. Download over 200 images recount the history of sheerness naval dockyard and its garrison since their foundation in the midseventeenth century until the official closing ceremony in 1960, including impressive images of the venerable old hulk cornwallis, a survivor from the time of the napoleonic wars. She favoured her mother, loved her mother best of all. He became foreman of the engineers in the dockyard at sheerness. The royal navy ceased to use sheerness dockyard in 1960, but the merchant navy operation continued.
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