Queen’s Stairs / Assistant Harbourmaster’s Office



In 1865, the whole of the tidal part of the river from Allington Lock to Sheerness was designated as a Dockyard Port under the control of the King or Queen Harbourmaster who was in charge of all movement within the river between these points.
As one of Britain’s most important Royal Dockyards, it was associated with many great historical figures of their time, all would have set foot on the Stairs. Famous seamen like Sir Francis Drake and Lord Nelson as well as literary legends such as Samuel Pepys and Charles Dickens. It was from these steps where Nelson left to take command of HMS Agamemnon at the start of the French Revolutionary War in 1793.
These Grade II* listed monuments are scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and listed to be of national importance.. It is one of 14 listed monuments in the Dockyard.

Thanks to Ann Howe one of our research volunteers for this blog!