Blog - Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust

Our Blog highlights even more locations, attractions, and activities you can enjoy at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, with news and interesting ideas on how to make the most of your next visit.

14 October 2021

On This Day

Trafalgar Night dinner traditions

13 October 2021

Warship Wednesday

Warship Wednesday: HMS Opossum

11 October 2021

A coloured engraving of a busy scene at the launching of the naval ship Queen Charlotte at Deptford Dockyard in July 1810. The dockside is crowded with spectators and many small boats, loaded with people, line either side of the slipway. Ladies are waving their handkerchiefs and gentlemen their hats to salute the great ship as she enters the river. The decks of the ship are also crowded. The figurehead, representing Queen Charlotte, is very prominent, and a bottle is about to strike her bow. The vessel, seen from the port side, has no masts or rigging but four large flags – Union Jack, St George’s Cross and two Ensigns – fly from flag staffs on her deck. More flags have been erected on both sides of the dock. The dignitaries christening the ship are standing on a raised platform at her bows and a military band is playing on the far left of the picture.

11 October 2021

Dockyard Characters

Hidden Heroine: the first black woman to serve in the Royal Navy

11 October 2021

On This Day

Memories of HMS Fittleton

30 September 2021

Dockyard Characters

Hidden Heroine: Dispatch rider Grace Elizabeth Mulford

15 September 2021

Dockyard Characters

Published curator to lead Trust’s Ropery renovation

14 September 2021

Warship Wednesday

Warship Wednesday: HMS Arethusa

14 September 2021

Black and white photograph of 2 women workers and 2 male workers welding HMS Acheron's Bulkhead

14 September 2021

Dockyard Characters

What were women’s roles at the Dockyard during the First and Second World Wars?

08 September 2021

Dockyard Characters

Planning your 1940’s outfit

07 September 2021

Hidden Heroines

Grace Darling – The RNLI’s Hidden Heroine

06 September 2021

General News

Award-winning Estate Manager boosts Trust’s Historic environment and buildings team

25 August 2021

Collections

Warship Wednesday: Ship Launches

20 August 2021

General News

Dockyard wins Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 10th consecutive year

16 August 2021

General News

It’s time to meet again … The D-Day Darlings headline at The Historic Dockyard’s 1940s festival

16 August 2021

General News

Dockyard’s heritage building rated top sustainable structure in triple awards win

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May 15

Open

As a charity, our two core purposes are 'learning' and 'preservation'. If you visit us this season you will see preservation in action as we undertake some essential works to the mast of HMS Cavalier.

Whilst the scaffold might detract a little from the spectacular sight of our Second World War Destroyer, the tower has been constructed around the main mast whilst we determine the severity of some corrosion that was discovered on a routine inspection. We are working with a Structural Engineer to assess the extent of the damage and develop a repair strategy.

Income from our visitors helps support this important work. Each time you purchase a ticket, buy a coffee in our cafe or pick up something in our shop you are contributing to the ongoing maintenance of our historic ships and the preservation of the most compete Dockyard from the Age of Sail for generations to come.

⚓

#HMSCavalier #Cavalier #Destroyer #SecondWorldWarDestroyer #SecondWorldWar #WorldWarTwo #WWII #preservation #maintenance #scaffold #engineer #engineering #ageofsail #dockyard #chathamdockyard #royalnavy #historicdockyardchatham #support #fundraising #conservation

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May 12

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If you’ve just seen Clodagh cooking a sausage casserole for her ‘hearties’ on @thismorning, why not take a voyage o… https://t.co/6FIfNq8czo

about 14 hours ago

Join us for a relaxed opening afternoon on 26 October. Working with @ClubAUsome2019, the session has been designed… https://t.co/3DCESFbknq

5:42 PM Oct 16th

Thank you for joining us @jesselfarms https://t.co/1XqTHAVJVk

7:50 AM Oct 15th

#TrafalgarNight is celebrated each October to commemorate victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Tonight we up… https://t.co/Iflf1d2EzY

5:33 PM Oct 14th

Dive deeper into the lifespan of the last conventional submarine to be re-fitted at Chatham Dockyard almost 50 year… https://t.co/LAxlZ4AHs3

6:24 PM Oct 13th

Ahoy! ARRRRRR you ready to meet Long John McRon and his magical pirate crew? Brush up on your pirate lingo and join… https://t.co/qDhFKfIduN

5:54 PM Oct 13th

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May 7

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Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar, HMS Victory, launched on this day in 1765 from Chatham.
Proclaimed 'the biggest and best ever' in an 18th century London newspaper, the 104-gun first-rate ship was wished bon voyage by 'many persons of quality and distinction' as she embarked on her first mission for the Royal Navy's reserve fleet. She returned to Chatham for major repairs both before and after the Battle of Trafalgar.

Today Victory resides in Portsmouth but we have a model on display in our Command of the Oceans galleries.

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#hmsvictory #nelson #1765 #historicdockyardchatham #royalnavy #firstsealord #visitmedway #flagship #chathamdockyard #trafalgar #dockyarddayout #visitchatham #londonpublicadvertiser #onthisday #victory #battleoftrafalgar

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May 3

Open

🌞 Commissioner's Garden 🌞

Thanks to our hardworking gardeners our secret garden, tucked behind Commissioner's House, is looking stunning in the Spring sunshine.

Hopefully it won't be too long before we can reopen our gates and everyone can enjoy a dose of the Garden of England in full bloom.

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#gardenofengland #kent #garden #secretgarden #dockyard #chathamdockyard #historicdockyardchatham #dockyarddayout #spring #springhasprung #nature #commisonersgarden #visitkent #enjoymedway #secretgarden #tulip #blossom #springcolour #gardenlover #gardening #springgarden

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Call the Midwife Official Location Tours 2021

21 May - 31 Oct

Pirate Stew Discovery Trail

09 Oct - 31 Oct

Hidden Heroines

29 May - 31 Oct

Latest blog articles

Trafalgar Night dinner traditions

Warship Wednesday: HMS Opossum

Hidden Heroine: the first black woman to serve in the Royal Navy

Memories of HMS Fittleton

Hidden Heroine: Dispatch rider Grace Elizabeth Mulford

Published curator to lead Trust’s Ropery renovation

Warship Wednesday: HMS Arethusa

What were women’s roles at the Dockyard during the First and Second World Wars?

Planning your 1940’s outfit

Grace Darling – The RNLI’s Hidden Heroine

Award-winning Estate Manager boosts Trust’s Historic environment and buildings team

Warship Wednesday: Ship Launches

Dockyard wins Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 10th consecutive year

It’s time to meet again … The D-Day Darlings headline at The Historic Dockyard’s 1940s festival

Dockyard’s heritage building rated top sustainable structure in triple awards win

Call the Midwife Official Location Tours 2021

21 May - 31 Oct

Pirate Stew Discovery Trail

09 Oct - 31 Oct

Hidden Heroines

29 May - 31 Oct

Latest blog articles

Category

Trafalgar Night dinner traditions

Warship Wednesday: HMS Opossum

Hidden Heroine: the first black woman to serve in the Royal Navy

Memories of HMS Fittleton

Hidden Heroine: Dispatch rider Grace Elizabeth Mulford

Published curator to lead Trust’s Ropery renovation

Warship Wednesday: HMS Arethusa

What were women’s roles at the Dockyard during the First and Second World Wars?

Planning your 1940’s outfit

Grace Darling – The RNLI’s Hidden Heroine

Award-winning Estate Manager boosts Trust’s Historic environment and buildings team

Warship Wednesday: Ship Launches

Dockyard wins Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 10th consecutive year

It’s time to meet again … The D-Day Darlings headline at The Historic Dockyard’s 1940s festival

Dockyard’s heritage building rated top sustainable structure in triple awards win

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