Kent Shipbuilding Conference
07 Nov - 08 Nov 2024
Kent Shipbuilding Conference is jointly organised by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Kent Archaeological Society to mark the 40th anniversary of the closure of the dockyard and to highlight Kent’s rich ship and boat building heritage.
From the Dover Bronze Age Boat through to the construction of vessels during the Second World War in Faversham the conference offers 2 days of fascinating talks and insight into the vessels, people and towns involved.
There will also be a chance to hear more about contemporary restoration work and to talk to people involved in research, restoration and heritage projects.
Tickets
Tickets are available to book online, either as a single day (Thursday or Friday) or you can save a few pounds by booking a 2-day ticket.
The conference fee includes tea, coffee & pastries on arrival and a sandwich buffet lunch.
The fee also includes entrance to the wider Historic Dockyard site, galleries, exhibitions and tours.
Conference programme
Please see below the outline programme for the conference.
The full programme will be confirmed shortly. Programme is subject to change.
Day One
Thursday 7 November
10:00
Welcome & Keynote
Richard Morsley, CEO Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust
10:35
Session 1
Restoration and Replica
(Chair Stuart Bligh)
Dover Bronze Age Boat – Paul Bennett
The Whitstable Oyster Yawl Gamecock: Past, Present and Future – Gordon Vincent
12:00
Session 2
Ship Archaeology
(Chair – Catherine Holt)
Uncovering the Mysteries of the Sandwich Bay wooden wrecks – Peta Knott
The Graveney Boat – Damian Goodburn
15:00
Session 3
Shipbuilders
(Chair – Vanessa Sanderson)
The Shipwrights of Deptford Dockyard – Brian Lavery
The Significance of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust’s Small Boats Collection: Opportunities, Challenges and the next 10 years – Paul Wright
The Austins – Shipwrights and Barge Builders – Sarah Austin
16:30
Finish
Day 2
Friday 8 November
10:00
Session 1
Shipbuilding during wartime
(Chair – Martin Crowther)
Shipbuilding at Richborough Port during the First World War – Colin Varrall
James Pollock, Faversham; Making the Best of It – Henry Cleary
11:30
Session 2
Resources and research
(Chair – Emma Ovenden)
Ship and Boatbuilding at Gravesend in the Days of Sail & Oar – David Patient
Shipbuilding in Kent: an overview of the ship plan archives at the National Maritime Museum – Alex Grover
12.10 Panel questions
14:00
Session 3
Shipbuilding at Chatham
(Chair – Nick Ball)
Achilles – The Ship that transformed Chatham – Dr Philip MacDougall
HMS Unicorn – Matthew Bellhouse Moran
The London Wreck: Rediscovery and Excavation – Jools Maxwell
15: 00 Panel Questions
15:30
Closing Remarks
Events & Activities
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