Commemorating 40 years since the closure of the Royal Dockyard and four decades of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.
1984 – 2024
40 years in the making
On 30 March 1984 Chatham Dockyard closed, ending 400 years of the Royal Navy’s presence in Chatham and the surrounding area.
Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust was formed on the very same day the working dockyard closed. Tasked with the purpose of saving the 80 acres of this uniquely historic site and to provide a beacon of hope for the community.
In 2024, marking four decades since its inception, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, who began the work of preserving, conserving and finding a use for the historic site, simultaneously remembered the closure and what it meant to Chatham, and also celebrated the remarkable achievements of the previous forty years.
This interactive timeline charts the pivotal decisions taken leading up to the closure and the subsequent transformative developments on the historic estate. Navigate by scrolling the page or use the menu to select a decade that intrigues you most.
The early 1980s – and the beginning of the rescue plan
1981-1984
At its height (during the Second World War), the Dockyard employed more than 17,000 workers from more than 26 different trades. Just prior to the announcement of its closure, the Dockyard employed 6,500 civilians.
“In 1984, the year of Band Aid and the Miner’s Strike, the closure of the Dockyard in Chatham went unnoticed by many outside of the Medway Towns. Its closure was more than purely an economic impact, the Dockyard provided identity, purpose and value to the community; it was akin to the heart being ripped out of the Medway Towns.”
Richard Morsley, Chief Executive, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust
25 June 1981
Defence Secretary Sir John Nott announced the dockyard closure to the House of Commons. A three-year rundown of the naval base begins.
July 1981
The Dockyard Defence Committee (DDC) is set up by a group of Kent County Councillors and MPs in an attempt to save the Dockyard from closure.
3 July 1981
1,000s of Dockyard workers stage a mass march through the Medway towns in protest at the decision to close Chatham Dockyard.
1982
Redundancy notices are recalled due to the Falklands Conflict.
30 SEPTEMBER 1983
Haul Down Ceremony. The Port Admiral’s flag is lowered at sunset for the last time, signalling the end of the Medway Command.
The beginning of the rescue plan
1981
“We knew that there was going to be an announcement made about the closure of one of the Royal Naval Dockyard’s but nobody knew when it was going to be or who it would be.
“I was a civilian member of the Wardroom, and oddly enough, the day before the announcement was made in the House of Commons by Secretary of Defence John Nott, we went to the annual cocktail party, held on the lawn outside of the Wardroom. I still get emotional thinking about these things. We’d had the cocktail party, the Royal Marine band was there, and (Chatham’s) Rear-Admiral George M.K. Brewer’s car was at the bottom of the steps. My wife Pat and I saw the Admiral walk down the steps to his car with tears rolling down his face and I said to Pat – “there – you’ve got your answer, it’s Chatham”. He’d been told that very afternoon.
John Spence OBE
25 June
Closure announced
Defence Secretary Sir John Nott announces the dockyard closure to the House of Commons. A three-year rundown of the naval base begins.
A group of dockyard workers travel to London that morning to lobby MPs in an attempt to stop the closure decision but heard the news when they returned to Medway.
Image: London protest
“… the most distressing day that I have experienced in the 30 years that I have been a Member of this House.”
Sir Frederick Burden (MP for Gillingham) described the day in the House
July
The Dockyard Defence Committee (DDC) is set up by a group of Kent County Councillors and MPs in an attempt to save the Dockyard from closure.
This group includes John Spence; former Mayor of Gillingham mayor Harry Blease; Peggy Fenner (MP for Rochester & Chatham); and her predecessor Rob Bean (Labour). Keith Speed, who resigned as MP for Ashford just after the closure announcement was also involved in the DDC.
Image: John Spence
3 July
1,000s of Dockyard workers stage a mass march through the Medway towns in protest at the decision to close Chatham Dockyard.
This starts from outside Main Gate and ends in a rally at Jackson’s playing field in Rochester.
Image: Medway protest
7 July
Dockyard workers protest closure in London.
July
Yard Closure Planning Department is set up. Dennis Underdown, Yard Services Manager, leads a team responsible for preparation, monitoring and maintenance of closure plan, ancient monuments, proposals for office accommodation and return of surplus office equipment and machinery.
The groups initial task is to prepare a closure plan for MODHQ. Another task is showing prospective buyers around.
1982
March
A job centre is set up within the Dockyard to help workers facing redundancy and unemployment.
Image: Dockyard Job Centre, 1982
April
The official opening of the Chatham Dockyard Historical Society museum in the Lead & Paint Mill – ‘Chatham Naval Base Historical Centre’ – by Port Admiral, Rear Admiral Brewer.
Image: Rear Admiral Brewer
The museum houses a collection of artefacts, photographs and models that the group rescues from around the site during the final years. This gallery explores dockyard trades and the life and times of the dockyard worker.
Image: Chatham Dockyard Historical Society Museum. Courtesy of Chatham Dockyard Historical Society.
Chatham Dockyard Historical Society (CDHS) was formed two years earlier in 1980, by a group of Dockyard employees. Their aim was to set up a small museum within the Dockyard site to tell the story of the history and traditions of the Dockyard.
The Personnel Manager at that time, Alan Maunder, offered the use of two rooms in the old Lead & Paint Mill.
Chatham was home of the standby fleet for much of the post war period, including during the Falklands conflict (consisting of Tribal class frigates and anti-aircraft vessels that were returned to service to free up the rest of the fleet).
The Dockyard carries out key refits, with the last refits being CHURCHILL and HERMIONE.
Image: HMS COURAGEOUS at the Bulls Nose, 1979
Workers are involved in the fabrication of parts for other Dockyards and the adaption of the Merchant fleet that operated as part of the Task Force.
There is some hope this will secure Chatham Dockyard’s future, but the closedown process continues.
At the same time as the Falklands activities – Chatham was stripping stores, closing buildings, sending resources to other dockyards.
They also had to decide what to do with apprentices and workers – options included transfer to Plymouth and Portsmouth – they encouraged the workforce to move there or take redundancy. Many older workers took redundancy.
6 August
Rear Admiral William Higgins replaces Rear Admiral George Brewer as Flag Officer Medway and Port Admiral. Higgins had been Commodore of the RN Barracks in Devonport.
20 August
the return of HMS ENDURANCE
Many of the Dockyard workforce and members of the public welcome HMS ENDURANCE home after the Falklands.
The ship sails up the River Medway and enters No.3 Basin. Tugs and a small fleet of boats go out to welcome ENDURANCE and crowds line the banks of the river. Thousands more people were gather around No.3 Basin.
Fleet Air Arm Wasp helicopters fly overhead, fire tenders discharge multi-coloured jets of water and thousands of red, white and blue balloons are released.
ENDURANCE’s captain defied orders to go to Portsmouth as he wanted to bring the ship back to Chatham as a symbol after the Falklands.
Image: HMS ENDURANCE returning
August
Kent County Council commission a report from leading consultants Richard Ellis, Chartered Surveyors, and Hugh Wilson & Lewis Womersley, Architects & Town Planners.
This is published in August 1982 and contains in outline a blueprint for the future of the Dockyard, including options for a museum or a ‘living dockyard.’
Autumn
John Nott visits the Dockyard to reassure workers after the closure announcement the previous June. He arrived by helicopter – which landed on the Helipad (where the car park is now).
December
Arrangements are underway to lease part of the Sail & Colour Loft to Zephyr Flags and Banners, who were poised to take over flag making operation when the Ministry of Defence ceased production in February 1984.
The company has a 5-year guaranteed order book – making flags for the Navy.
1983
11 April
Cosalt PLC take over commercial running of Ropery.
Outgoing Ropery Inspector, Maurice Adcock, who had worked in the Dockyard for 41 years, is brought back as manager with five of the original staff.
The Grimsby-based company had a 5-year running plan. They took over No.1 Workbase, installing ‘modern’ polypropylene rope making machinery in there so they could make the smaller rope sizes using modern materials.
The company moved to Northern Ireland after the 5 years.
North Kent Joinery is also established during 1983.
The company is one of the early post-closure commercial tenants on site.
They have become one of the UK’s leading bespoke joinery companies with clients across Kent, the UK and Europe and they are still a tenant at the Dockyard today.
30 September
Haul Down Ceremony
This major ceremony marks the formal departure of the Port Admiral and the Royal Navy from Chatham.
The Port Admiral’s flag is lowered at sunset, accompanied by a Royal Marine Band beat retreat and a 13-gun salute, signalling the end of the Medway Command.
Image: Invitation to Farewell Cocktails. Courtesy of John Spence OBE.
The ceremony is witnessed by thousands of local people, who were addressed by CFS, Vice Admiral Sir James Kennon from the Admiralty Board and Port Admiral, Rear Admiral Higgins.
Image: Rear Admiral Higgins
The responsibility for the day to day running of the Dockyard sits with the General Manager until the final closedown on 30 March 1984.
Pembroke Barracks close as naval barracks
16 November
Meeting with Peter Rees, Chief Secretary of the Treasury, and MP for Dover to discuss funding for the future of the dockyard.
23 November
Chatham closure dinner
A formal black-tie event is held at the new Crest Hotel in Chatham. The department is praised for conducting a ‘smooth and trouble-free closure operation’ and toasted ‘Chatham! May the tradition and the memory live on!’
Christmas
An announcement is made in the House of Commons immediately before Christmas 1983 that a trust for the historic dockyard would be established to take over the freehold of the site from the Ministry of Defence, sponsored by the two secretaries of state (who remain formal members of the Trust to this day).
1984
20 January
PSTO(N) Farewell Party
Planned by staff since the closure announcement. PSTO(N) writers Mrs Bess Salmon, Mrs Pam Woodard, Mrs Julia Simmonds and Mrs Brenda Willis each saved 50p a week over 2 years, into a special account, saving a total of £200 which is spent on provisions and a special cake. 100 past and present colleagues attend.
15 February
Non-industrial staff party in the Clock Tower Office with 100 friends and former colleagues. After this many of the staff retire or are transferred the following week.
A Rear Party of 30 non-industrial and 40 industrial workers take charge of remaining matters for the final 6 weeks.
How did Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust come into being?
John Spence OBE
John was one of those involved in the setting up of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust – which held its first meeting on the day the Dockyard finally closed its gates (30 March 1984).
Prior to the gates closing, as both a member of the County Council and a dedicated employee of the Dockyard, John was well placed to liaise with Kent County Council, and Medway councillors, and help build a rapport with the government.
“I had much to do with saving the Historic Dockyard – from the early meetings where I led on behalf of the Kent County Council – and with members of the local authority, we were able to establish a rapport with the government (which helped with later matters) to attending the first meeting of the Board which was held in the Admiralty main building in London on the very same afternoon the gates of the Dockyard closure.”
John Spence
“My constituents were either Dockyard workers or ex-Dockyard workers, and many of them had come out of the Navy and had gone into the Dockyard.
“ I felt the only way forward for the impact for the closure of the dockyard was for us to take control of the destiny of the Medway towns.”
Rodney Chambers
Rodney Chambers OBE
Rodney was very active in local politics and a member of Kent County Council, worked alongside John Spence and other interested parties.
Rodney was keen for the Medway Towns to step up and to look after their own interests.
Kent County Council
Kent County Council commissioned a report in 1982 which helped outline the blueprint for the future of the Dockyard and the importance of the historic buildings – with particular emphasis on a ‘living dockyard’.
The Secretary for Environment at the time was Michael Heseltine, and following a visit to the Dockyard, he was convinced that the buildings and site needed saving.
The Conservative government were not sure, to begin with, how the Dockyard would be run after closure. Discussions were held at official and ministerial level to resolve the issues. The two main departments to disagree on the way forward were the State Department for Environment and Ministry of Defence. Money had been made available but a joint announcement was lacking.
“Michael Heseltine was passionate about the Dockyard and we owe a lot to him.”
John Spence
John Spence and Robert Neame (leader of Kent County Council from 1982 – 1984) were in regular discussion with the government through their local authority roles during the early 1980s. As the date of closure neared, the two became alarmed at the lack of progress, they called on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to intervene.
Decade one – Understanding the importance of the buildings
1984 – 1994
After 400 years as a Royal Dockyard, the final closure of the Naval base took place on 30 March 1984. It was marked with mementoes handed to the new owners of the site to signify the spirit of regeneration.
“There was a ceremonial formal closing of the Dockyard gates with two local mayors and others, along with an exchange of gifts… following this, I hurried off to London to the first meeting of the Trust which was held in the MOD building in Whitehall. It was a very busy day.”
John Spence OBE
30 March 1984
Final closure of the Naval base.
First meeting of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.
6 July 1985
Historic Dockyard opens as a visitor attraction.
June 1987
HMS GANNET arrives on charter to the Trust from the Maritime Trust.
March 1990
Award winning Wooden Walls gallery opens in the Mast Houses and Mould Loft.
July 1992
HM Submarine OCELOT arrives. She was moored at Chatham Maritime between 1992 and 1999.
Chatham historic Dockyard Trust
1984
30 March – AM
The final closure of the Naval base.
The PSTO(N) Rear Party finish the final chores for the day and wave the final lorries off to Portsmouth. The staff lock up the buildings mid-morning and assemble at Pembroke Gate for the symbolic gate closing ceremony.
There are several speeches from the last General Manager and a representative from English Industrial Estates. Both are heckled loudly.
A baton is handed to Lieutenant-General Sir Steuart R Pringle Bt KCB DSc, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.
The baton refers to all the ships built at Chatham between 1547 – 1984; and reads:
“this baton was handed over on 30 March 1984 to symbolise passing on the responsibility for continuing and developing the tradition of high standards in skill and performance which were maintained on the Dockyard site for over 400 years.”
(c) Kent Messenger
30 March – PM
The first meeting of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. The meeting is held at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall.
The Trust’s first chairman and Chief Executive is Lt. Gen. Sir Steuart Pringle, recently retired as Commandant General of the Royal Marines.
Image: Sir Steuart Pringle
Other Trustees appointed to the board are:
The Hon. Anthony Cayzer, Deputy Chairman
Mr Christopher Wates (Chairman of English Estates, which had taken over responsibility for the modern dockyard)
Mr John Spence
Mr Leonard Manasseh
Mr Robert Hukisson
The Rt. Hon. Earl Ferrars
The Trust is established with an grant from the government of £11.35 million (£48.3 million in today’s money), representing the minimum sum felt necessary to enable immediate maintenance priorities to be met, and giving the Trust sufficient breathing space to be able to establish commercial ventures to generate sufficient income to secure its long-term future.
There is a three-way land split between Medway Ports Authority, English Industrial Estates and Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. There are 47 Scheduled Ancient Monuments within the Historic Dockyard site and this land split was deemed a solution for preserving those and protecting heritage.
1 APril
The Trust assumes responsibility for the running of the Historic Dockyard.
£3 million from the government grant is earmarked for repairs to the Ropery roof (which was finished in 1986/87).
Chatham Dockyard Historical Society acquires more artefacts and use more of the Lead & Paint Mill to store and display objects.
The importance of the buildings
When the Trust was formed in 1984, Paul Hudson became an advisor to Sir Steuart Pringle.
As a planner and economic development specialist working for local, regional and then national government, Paul Hudson has been involved in the evolution of the Dockyard since its closure
Paul’s understanding of the importance of the Scheduled Ancient Monument buildings helped the trustees and wider team achieve their aim of creating a ‘living dockyard’.
“The inter-relationship between the buildings is so strong and they were purposefully constructed for ship building – and maintaining them as a group was of the greatest importance. Having a body that’s single minded and dedicated to the task, where you have such a large group of buildings over an extensive site (80 acres) you do need a group of people who’s only purpose in life is to secure, preserve and re-use the buildings. It’s a great example of what you do when you set up an organisation with a clear remit and central purpose.”
Paul Hudson
Renovating buildings is an expensive task.
Renovating one Schedule Ancient Monument is a significant undertaking – what do you do when you have 47 to save?
The government awarded the Trust £11.35million but it didn’t receive all the money to do what it wanted – £3.5m was already allocated by the government for the re-roofing of The Ropery – the longest brick building in Europe, with one of the longest roofs in Europe!
Of the £7.85 million that was remaining (after the money was deducted for the ropery roof) it left little financial discretion.
”Preservation by re-use” became the remit for the Trust during the early 2000’s.
The team had looked (prior to closure) at other convincing models, and even visited Boston to see the achievements there where the US had saved a large historic industrial complex.
The Ropery Roof
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
opening the visitor attraction
1985
1 April
Richard Holdsworth joins the Trust as its first curator.
One of his first tasks is to put together content for the Galvanising Shop which is to be the visitor entrance, ready for the site opening to the public.
Image: Richard Holdsworth on HM Submarine OCELOT
Richard was actively involved in the acquisition of all three of the Trust’s present ships – HMS GANNET in 1987, HM Submarine OCELOT in 1992 and HMS CAVALIER in 1999. Richard led the welcome committee when OCELOT arrived at Chatham and worked with former dockyard workers on bringing her to rest without power, light, hydrualics or compressed air.
6 July
The Historic Dockyard first opens as a visitor attraction.
“When we became the Historic Dockyard the gates were opened to the public on a previously guarded space. There’s a very high wall around the Dockyard but it was no longer a wall that prevented people from coming into the Dockyard. Right from the very beginning, if a member of the public turned up, they weren’t turned away.”
John Spence
The Galvanising Shop is the first gallery to open as the Visitor Centre.
Visitors can experience the history of the dockyard through objects, models, maps and film and explore areas of the semi-derelict site.
Guided tours had first started at the Dockyard in April 1970. Ken Towsey was one of the tour guides and becomes the Trust’s first head guide, post closure.
Image: Mast Houses and Mould Loft
“The experience was very much ‘look at the history of the dockyard in one building then walk around the derelict buildings and mind your step! The Ropery, the first gallery, opened two years later and enabled visitors to see the working naval ropery.”
Richard Holdsworth
First in Line
Patrick Boniface recalls being the first visitor to the Historic Dockyard when it opened in 1985.
“40 years! It is quite an impressive number when I look back at the school kid I was as I waited patiently outside what was then the museum entrance for it to open for the first time…
… Finally, the door to the old museum building opened and out stepped Sir Stuart Pringle. He smiled at me and said something like ‘You must be keen, you’ve been here hours’. And I had. But I didn’t mind. I was the first member of the public to see inside the new museum.”
In 1986, the first full year of opening to the public, 14,000 people visit the Historic Dockyard.
Phase 1: building and renovating housing on site
Housing works start in 1986 with the renovation of No.1 Officer’s Terrace. These works involve architects Cambridge Design and developers Morgan Sindall (who also build College Road Terrace and Sail Field Court). However, the developers go bust in 1991, so the rest of the Officer’s Terrace houses are sold off and made available for people to buy and carry out their own renovations.
There is a gap of about 5 years between the next works which resulted in a joint venture between Morgan Sindall and Tri-Homes.
These houses were largely derelict when the site closed and were part of the first phase of residential building renovations in 1986. Basic works were completed and No.1 Officer’s Terrace was fully renovated but the property market crashed and remaining houses were sold off for buyers to complete their own renovations.
The second phase begins in the late 1990s/early 2000s with the building of new houses at Mark Brunel Way, College Road and Church Lane.
The South Stables are the latest buildings to be converted to residential properties in 2003-2004. One of the stables remains as a complete unrestored groom’s quarters.
Today’s residential Dockyard is home to around 400 people.
Officer’s Terrace
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
The Ropery & arrival of HMS GANNET
1987
April
First exhibition in the Ropery opens.
The Historic Dockyard’s own ropemaking company, Master Ropemakers, runs the commercial operation in the Ropery. At this time, the Spinning Rooms are still in operation.
The public are invited to go on a walking tour, starting at the Ropery Shop, then moving on to the Hemp House, Spinning Room, then back down to another Hemp House, finishing at the Test House.
18 June
Victorian sloop HMS GANNET first arrives on charter to be restored by an employment training scheme, which is part funded by Kent County Council (restoration materials) and AMARC (using government employment training funding).
No.1 Workbase is set up as a training centre.
The ship is leased from the Maritime Trust for conservation, restoration and display.
Visitors can see an exhibition gallery in the Old Fire Station before going onboard to watch restoration work.
This funding does not continue, and major restoration works are only possible after the first successful Heritage Lottery Fund (now National Lottery Heritage Fund) bid between 1997 and 1998.
HMS GANNET (1878)
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
1988
No.6 Covered Slip houses a collection of historic naval craft, including CMB 103, HSL 386, the fishing boat Iverna and midget submarine XE8 (which can still be seen by visitors today in No.3 Covered Slip).
No.6 Covered Slip also houses the Steam Centre – an area devoted to the steam engine. Traction engines, a portable boiler and the dockyard railway’s locomotive Ajax are all on display.
The first temporary exhibition gallery opens located in the Old Billiard Room (just down the steps from the Cashier’s Office). Details of exhibitions can be found in the Visitor Centre.
July
The Sail & Colour Loft opens with a viewing gallery so that visitors could see people working with traditional skills.
You can see flags being made and demonstrations of sailmaking techniques. There is a short AV presentation called ‘The Power & the Glory’ which illustrated the history of sails and flags at sea, shown on the ground floor.
1989
May
Ordnance Gallery Opens
The Ordnance Gallery is a funded project in the Joiner’s Shop through the job creation scheme with Adrian Caruana to create a gallery and workshops in the central courtyard.
Visitors can see the ‘Guns for the Sea’ exhibition – one of the finest collections of naval muzzle-loading guns, follow the story of ordnance and see gun carriages built by the skilled craftsmen in the workshops. Visitors are also encouraged to go and find the guns that have been reused as bollards and supports around the site – for example the Chain and Cable shed and one of the Anchor Wharf Storehouses.
Government funding ends for the project and plans are underway to create an architecture centre on the top floor of Joiner’s Shop (completed in 1996).
December
The Crews Quarters Club, a private lunch club, is opened by Mr Edward Heath, MP.
Restoration of the first major scheduled ancient monumnet – wooden walls
1990
March
Award winning Wooden Walls gallery opens in the Mast Houses and Mould Loft.
This is the first of the Historic Dockyard’s ‘core’ galleries telling the story of wooden ship construction in the Age of Sail, specifically the story of the VALIANT – built at Chatham between 1758 and 1759, seen through the eyes of young apprentice William Crockwell.
This work is enabled by one of the Trust’s first grants.
Inspired by the Jorvik Viking Centre, it features animatronic mannequins and sound effects.
A particular highlight is the display of material recovered from the wreck of the INVINCIBLE.
The Mast Houses and Mould Loft is one of the most significant buildings on site relating to wooden warship construction, built between 1753 and 1756.
This gallery also highlights the different trades involved in wooden ship construction and was considered one of the first steps in serving the needs of those that lost jobs and livelihoods during closure.
This gallery takes two years to build and, despite funding, significantly diminishes the Trust’s free reserves which had a huge impact on long term funding and the work they could do over the next few years.
“This was the first test case as to whether the government would allow the Trust go back for public funding. The Wooden Walls gallery won the English Tourist Board’s award for excellent in 1990 and set the seal for the Trust’s aspirations to be at the top of the game.”
Richard Holdsworth
Wheelwrights’ licensed restaurant also opens at this time.
August
Ajax, the Historic Dockyard’s own steam locomotive is working again after undergoing restoration.
Image: Ajax
NOvember
The Wooden Walls gallery wins the English Tourist Board’s highest national award for development of a tourist attraction – The England for Excellence Award.
December
The restoration of the Mast Houses and Mould Loft receives a Commendation in the 1990 Civic Trust Awards.
By 1990 visitor numbers have grown to a respectable 95,000.
The Trust itself has become a sizeable organisation employing over 100 people, (although many of these were temporary seasonal staff), there are 55 commercial tenants, and a start had been made on the new housing development.
Mast Houses and Mould Loft
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
1991
January
The Historic Dockyard wins the Site Management category of the Industry in Kent Environment Awards.
Historic Dockyard staff are commended in South East England Tourist Board’s 1990 Warmest Welcome Awards (attractions category).
Miss Muriel Baldwin becomes the first resident in Sailfield Court, a new housing development behind the Sail & Colour Loft.
NOvember
The Historic Dockyard wins Highly Commended in the Kent Marketing Awards – Consumer Products and Services Category.
December
Bruce Robertson is appointed as Chief Executive. He comes to the role with experience of the regeneration of St. Katherine’s Dock in London.
Image: Bruce Robertson
Robertson originally joins the Trust in 1986 as General Manager, during which time Sir Steuart Pringle remained as both head of the board and Chief Executive.
Sir Steuart is succeeded as Chairman by Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Staveley, GCB, DL – former First Sea Lord who had served as First Lieutenant on HMS CAVALIER during his naval career.
acquisition of hm submarine ocelot
1992
July
HM Submarine OCELOT was paid off in August 1991 and is acquired by the Trust.
English Partnerships fund some basic restoration works so that the submarine can open to public. Former Dockyard Foreman Keith Slade is part of the team that completes these works.
OCELOT is moored at Chatham Maritime, between 1992 and 1999, where you can go on board as part of your dockyard ticket. The new houses on St. Mary’s Island are also underway around this time.
Volunteer group The Chatham Historic Dockyard Voluntary Service (CHDVS) is formed around this time and one of its first projects is to work on OCELOT when she arrives.
Long-standing CHDVS volunteer, Alan Bates, recalls his experience of working on OCELOT to get her ready for visitors:
“We painted the submarine twice and then a company came in and sprayed her completely.
When we were installing the torpedo, it took three people to lift it in – it was 22ft long and we had a crane on Dockside to help.”
…She came into the dock but a commercial company needed the space so we had to move her to Anchor Wharf – she stayed on Anchor Wharf for two years. We painted, cleaned, took the periscope off and removed anything valuable. Before she was moved to No.2 Basin, they brought in a company to blast all of the mussels and barnacles off her hull – they managed to fill six skips!
July
The Trust is awarded the British Tourist Authority’s Come to Britain special award for Outstanding Tourist Enterprise (1991).
HM Submarine OCELOT (1962)
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
1993
March
HMS GANNET is refloated and a new figurehead unveiled – carved at the Ordnance Mews craft workshops by Paul Stevens.
July
The restoration of the Wheelwrights’ Shop is completed.
October
HMS GANNET gets a new 69ft long foremast, made on site by hand using traditional techniques.
November
The Rouse family purchase No.1 Officer’s Terrace. Part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to creating a living museum.
December
The Wheelwrights’ opens its own licensed bar – known as the Admiral Brewer – opened by its namesake – the former Flag Officer Medway and Port Admiral.
1994
January
The restoration of Covered Slips No.4, 5 and 6 is completed.
February
The restoration of No.3 Covered Slip starts, to be completed by Autumn 1994.
Easter
Chatham Historic Dockyard now opens daily until 30th October. Out of season opening on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday (February, March, November).
18 April
The conservation unit opens to the public.
25 July
Kent Police Force Museum opens in the Historic Dockyard.
This collection is established over a number of years and leaves the Dockyard in 2015, reopening in Faversham Police Station in 2021.
17 August
Ailsa-Perth Marine Ltd. takes over Dry Docks No. 2 and 4.
17 NOvember
Her Majesty The Queen makes a public visit to the Historic Dockyard.
As part of the visit she tours the Ropery and meets some of the heavy horses used on site.
2 December
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh makes a private visit to the Historic Dockyard.
He tours the lifeboats that have been moved into No.4 Slip, ahead of the gallery opening in 1996.
Decade tWO
1994 – 2004
Despite the difficulties regarding funding, the ’90s at the Dockyard would see a submarine ‘return home’ and a world-beating discovery. New funds came from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“Without that first Heritage Lottery Fund award, the Dockyard would have stalled and probably would never have been able to get to effective revenue based sustainability that it has today. The Heritage Lottery Fund award laid the foundations for bringing the Dockyard back into use.”
Richard Holdsworh
6 July 1995
10th anniversary of Chatham Historic Dockyard as an award-winning visitor attraction.
26 August 1995
HM Submarine OCELOT opens to visitors in Basin 2 at Chatham Maritime.
18 December 1995
Timbers of NAMUR are discovered beneath floor of Wheelwright’s Shop during renovations to the building.
may 1998
The Trust acquires Second World War Destroyer, HMS CAVALIER
25 May 1996
Lifeboat! gallery opens in No.4 Slip.
1998 – 2000
Chatham Historic Dockyard changes its name to World Naval Base.
Navy Days
Navy Days are a fondly remembered element of operational Dockyard history in the 20th century.
The final Navy Days event is held in 2002, with Princess Anne as the guest of honour.
10th anniversary
1995
6 July
10th anniversary of Chatham Historic Dockyard as an award-winning visitor attraction.
26 August
HM Submarine OCELOT opens to visitors in Basin 2 at Chatham Maritime.
It is open on weekends and members of the recently formed Chatham Historic Dockyard Voluntary Service are involved with delivering tours for the public.
In the space of a year she receives 28,000 visitors.
18 December
Timbers are discovered beneath floor of Wheelwright’s Shop during renovations to the building.
Deemed ‘the single most important warship discovery in Northern Europe since that of the Mary Rose.’
Wessex Archaeology undertake extensive tests and the timbers are discovered to be from the Age of Sail second rate ship of the line NAMUR.
NAMUR was built at Chatham Dockyard between 1750 and 1756 and the timbers were laid beneath the floor after the ship was broken up in 1834.
Today, you can learn more about NAMUR in the Command of the Oceans galleries.
With the launch of the National Lottery by John Major in 1994 came the prospect of substantial new resources likely to be available for heritage projects.
Trust Chairman Sir William Staveley urges the Trustees to accept that Chatham Historic Dockyard should be one of the first applications made to the newly established Heritage Lottery Fund (now National Lottery Heritage Fund), and consultants KPMG are employed to provide a thorough foundation for this application.
KPMG strongly recommends adding completion of the HMS GANNET restoration programme as a key icon of the Historic Dockyard and a range of museum improvement and infrastructure works amounting to a total of £14.7m.
The KPMG recommendations form the basis of a formal application to the Heritage Lottery Fund and a revised proposal to the City Council.
In 1997, the Heritage Lottery Fund approve a capital grant of £8.8m, the City Council contributed £4.8m and the balance up to the recommended £14.7m came from English Heritage and other trusts.
The Heritage Lottery Fund provides further £1.2m in revenue support and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport agrees to grant aid of around £300,000 annually, which revolutionises the Trusts resources.
The Trust is now financially in the position to realistically carry out the property development programme and develop the visitor attraction to enable the whole operation to generate a respectable income.
“After 15 years the Trust’s future was extremely precarious and without the intervention of the Heritage Lottery Fund and one of the first big awards, I’m doubtful Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust would have survived. At this time it was enormously important. The last 40 years can’t be understood without the tensions that existed in trying to get the Trust on a stable financial backing.”
Paul Hudson
“It was clear that the infrastructure works needed to be done in order to make the place work – the electricity supply system in most of the buildings wasn’t fit to be connected, so part of the HLF award paid for the replacement of high voltage cabling and transformers across the estate, making reuse of the buildings viable. We were able to do a lot of backlog building maintenance work that enabled the easier buildings to come back into commercial use. It was a transformational time.”
Richard Holdsworth
25 May
Lifeboat! gallery opens in No.4 Slip, developed in partnership with the RNLI.
The RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection was first moved into the space two years earlier, in 1994, initially as temporary storage.
This gallery is one of the earliest Heritage Lottery Fund projects in the country. It is a pioneering example of an accessible gallery with the inclusion of a level walkway throughout.
A model of HMS VICTORY arrives from her previous home in the United States Naval Training Centre in San Diego.
She was built for the 1941 film ‘That Hamilton Woman.’ The model was displayed in several locations on site, including Museum of the Royal Dockyard.
Today this model is on display in the Command of the Oceans galleries.
October
HM Submarine OCELOT receives nearly 28,000 visitors since opening on 26 August 1995.
December
Lifeboat! receives a Commendation by the Society for the Interpretation of Britain’s Heritage.
1994 – 2004
1997
8 January
Lifeboat! receives PR award for a special individual or group by the RNLI for its co-operation in providing the facilities for the first Royal National Lifeboat Collection to be housed and created.
October
Trust Chairman, Sir William Staveley, dies in office.
Kenneth Macdonald serves as Acting Chairman until an appropriate successor is found. He is also Vice-Chairman of the board.
Sir Nicholas Hunt is appointed Chairman of the Trust.
Late ’90s
The closure of the Dockyard had a significant impact on the provision of further education in the Medway Towns. In the late 1990s, work starts to rectify this with the development of Bridgewarden’s College in partnership with the University of Kent in The Clocktower.
1998
Joe Creighton is appointed as Chief Executive, replacing Bruce Robertson
Over a 4-year period, the Chatham Dockyard Historical Society collection moves out of the Lead & Paint Mill and into the Fitted Rigging House to become the Museum of the Royal Dockyard, telling the story of Chatham Dockyard from 1549-1984.
Ideas around using trains to transport public around site are explored, however this is not feasible with new regulations. Buses are bought in to transport visitors instead.
May
The Trust acquires Second World War Destroyer HMS CAVALIER.
Lottery Grant to tackle backlog
A significant £10 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant is awarded to the Trust, alongside £4 million from Medway Council.
This is game changing funding in terms of future opportunities and included: relocating the visitor entrance, refurbishing Ropery buildings, installing electrical infrastructure and drainage, work on HMS GANNET and HMS CAVALIER, an audio tour on HM Submarine OCELOT, setting up the Museum of the Royal Dockyard and saving the No. 7 Slip structure from collapse.
“Without that first HLF award, the Dockyard would have stalled and probably would never have been able to get to effective revenue based sustainability that it has today. The HLF award laid the foundations for bringing the Dockyard back into use.”
Richard Holdsworth
Filming Location
1989
The Dockyard is first used as a filming location in 1989 where exterior buildings shots featured in a Great Expectations TV series for the Disney Channel.
Filming location work resumes towards the end of the 1990s with Ropery exteriors featuring in BBC film The Mill on the Floss.
The first high profile productions on site are a couple of years later when the 1999 film ‘The Mummy’ uses the Dockyard as the port in Giza and the same year sees the Bond film ‘The World is Not Enough’ use building exteriors for a boat chase scene.
World Naval Base
1998 – 2000
Chatham Historic Dockyard changes its name to World Naval Base between 1998 and 2000.
This comes with a distinct marketing style, staff uniforms and branding.
The ‘Three Historic Ships’ are placed at the centre of the visitor offer and Navy Days are reintroduced from 1999-2002 with the idea of bringing the Navy back to Chatham.
Navy Days
Navy Days are a fondly remembered element of operational Dockyard history in the 20th century.
From 1998, they are revived by then Chief Executive, Joe Creighton, as part of the World Naval Base.
Image: Chatham Navy Days, 1999
Although a hit with visitors, the events are a huge drain on operational resources and after a few years are no longer considered financially viable.
The final Navy Days event is held in 2002, with Princess Anne as the guest of honour.
Image: Chatham Navy Days, 2002
1999
May
HMS CAVALIER arrives from Hebburn.
Considerable work is undertaken to enable CAVALIER to make the journey from Hebburn to Chatham – including adapting the dry dock gate in Hebburn to get the ship out.
“I was on duty at the head of the dock the day CAVALIER arrived. It always amused me that the two tugs that bought her in were called ‘Push It’ and ‘Shove It.’
“The ship leaned in as they were lining it up – there was an audible in take of breath. I remember the opening of the caisson, the divers going down to make sure everything was in position.
“Within a week of Cavalier arriving – we were expected to deliver a guided tour of it.
“We got on board as soon as we could so we could familiarise ourselves with the content – Richard Holdsworth drafted a script and I had pictures from on board before the ship even left Hebburn.”
Pam Wood, Visitor Experience Team
This is the first phase of displaying the ‘Three Historic Ships’ together on site – HM Submarine OCELOT, HMS CAVALIER and HMS GANNET.
HMS GANNET has to be floated out on the River Medway for two years during this process, then Heritage Lottery funding is secured for the restoration project.
New leadership
2000
December
Bill Ferris is appointed as Chief Executive.
Originally a trained accountant, Bill comes to the Trust with significant heritage management experience as the Commercial Manager at the Yorkshire Mining Museum, then Manager of A Day at the Wells in Tunbridge which led to a role as National Operations Director at Heritage Projects.
He is the driving force behind developing and implementing the Trust’s strategy of ‘preservation through reuse’ – one of the key factors in the success of the Trust in the second half of its 40 year existence.
Bill oversees some key milestones in the Trust’s development, utilising his ‘preservation through re-use’ strategy and secured funding for projects such as the regeneration of No.1 Smithery in 2010 (in partnership with the Imperial War Museums and the National Maritime Museum), Command of the Oceans in 2016 and the Fitted Rigging House in 2019.
2003
National Destroyer Memorial
Six artists are shortlisted and sculptor Kenneth Potts is selected to create the bronze sculpture commissioned to be displayed alongside HMS CAVALIER, as part of the National Destroyer Memorial.
The second phase of housing developments begin in the late 1990s/early 2000s with the building of new houses at Mark Brunel Way, College Road and Church Lane. These are all early examples of social housing mixing with existing housing.
The South Stables are the latest buildings to be converted to residential properties in 2003-2004. One of the stables remains as a complete unrestored groom’s quarters.
Today the Historic Dockyard has 120 homes, with c.400 residents.
2004
10 November
His Royal Highness The Price of Wales visits as part of a visit to the area.
He is met by Bill Ferris and tours the Visitor Centre, NAMUR timbers, The Smithery, Slips and HMS GANNET, passing HM Submarine OCELOT and HMS CAVALIER on the way to Ropery. He also visits Museum of the Royal Dockyard and Royal Dockyard Library and Reading Room, where he unveils a plaque.
His Royal Highness becomes Patron to the No.1 Smithery project in 2007 during its initial development. Following a visit to officially open No.1 Smithery, his patronage is extended to the wider work of the Trust in April 2013.
Decade three
2004 – 2014
The Dockyard is considered the highest level of heritage due to its unique and unaltered collection of industrial buildings from the Age of Sail. It still has the highest concentration of scheduled monuments on any site. While the place was unique and unaltered, the protection of the site reduced options for reuse, demolition or new development – this could only be handled by a Trust like CHDT, and with the help of significant funding.
“The light bulb moment for me was, the visitor attraction was important but the Trust has two objectives – education and preservation and neither are more important, and if you’re going to succeed in both you have to put both at the centre of everything we did.
“The buildings, once seen as liabilities, could become the assets that with careful planned re use could create a diverse and sustainable mixed income base.”
Bill Ferris CBE DL, Chief Executive (2001 – 2021)
2008
Renaissance in the Regions funding is used to update Ropery Gallery.
2009
The Joiner’s Shop is converted into multiple business units in partnership with South East England Development Agency.
2010
No.1 Smithery redevelopment and partnerships with Imperial War Museums and the National Maritime Museum.
2013
The original Wooden Walls gallery undergoes a major refurbishment, reopening as Hearts of Oak.
new chairman
2005
Recently retired Royal Navy officer Admiral Sir Ian Garnett KCB is appointed Chairman of the board.
Sir Ian’s connection with the Dockyard began long before his time as Chairman. He called the Dockyard home between 1964 and 1966 as his father was based there – as Captain of the Dockyard, Queen’s Harbour Master and Chief of Staff to Flag Officer Medway. Sir Ian even celebrated his 21st birthday in the Dockyard.
During his tenure, Sir Ian plays a significant role in attracting Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) funding for the regeneration of buildings like No.1 Smithery; securing The Prince of Wales as Patron; and chairing the first National Armed Forces Day in 2009.
Sir Ian helps establish our annual gala event Trafalgar Night Dinner – now widely recognised in the sector.
Sir Ian steps down in 2016.
commercial tenants
2006
The University of Kent. takes over its first building in 2006, The Galvanising Shop, and subsequently developed its presence, expanded its estate, to include the School of Music and Fine Arts, the Kent Business School post-graduate centre in the Sail & Colour Loft and a lecture theatre in the Royal Dockyard Church.
“I knew we couldn’t cover costs from visitor income, so then we needed to look at the buildings and turn them into assets. The way you do that was to use them for other purposes, and those other purposes supported the education objective. This was a complete transformation. That meant you could stop apologising for a failing visitor attraction and start to talk about the jobs and the economic benefit – the economic impact of the site itself.
Bill Ferris
From the period of 2001 – 2021, £40m is invested in the buildings – all raised from charitable sources, private benefactors, government and local authority.
The Ropery
2008
Renaissance in the Regions money is used to update the Ropery gallery.
Interpretation panels and the guided tour offer are all renewed. HRH Prince Michael of Kent officially opens the new gallery.
There were further updates in March 2022, thanks to funding from DCMS Wolfson and Garfield Weston. This gave the Trust a chance to highlight different stories and showcase key items from a newly acquired collection.
The Ropery Gallery
(Move the arrow left and right to see then and now photographs)
The Joiner’s Shop
2009
The Joiner’s Shop is converted into multiple business units, in partnership with South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
This is the first example in Trust history of modern intervention in a historic building and showed the popularity of commercial activity on the site.
This project demonstrated to English Heritage what the Trust was capable of – building trust for the future and was the first example of reversible structures inside a building.
Previously the building had housed a collection of historic ordnance and then an architecture centre.
27 June – National Armed Forces Day
The Historic Dockyard hosts the first national Armed Forces Day, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and key government officials are in attendance.
The Joiner’s Shop
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
No.1 Smithery
2010
Further Renaissance in the Region funding is used for No.1 Smithery.
This multi-purpose project sees partnerships with national museums, national collections, a changing exhibition programme and preservation of the building.
The first exhibition to be shown in No.1 Smithery is Stanley Spencer.
“We said to the National Maritime Museum and Imperial War Museums that we can help you meet your objective of working with regional museums, we’ve got a problem building and we think we can do something together – it grew and it evolved from there. One of the big success factors was identifying what funders needed and then finding partnerships with purpose which allowed everyone to meet their objectives.”
Bill Ferris
Prior to this, the Smithery had remained largely derelict since the closure of the Dockyard in 1984. In 1986 a high-level protected walkway was put into the building to give the public the chance to see into the space. They could view a selection of objects including ordnance, steam hammers, and other machinery used in the working dockyard.
Image: Nigel Howard surveying the Smithery chimney, 2004
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
No.3 Slip
2011 – 2012
Renaissance in the Regions money is used to transform No.3 Covered Slip in to a large object store in partnership with the nearby Royal Engineers Museum.
This enabled many of the large-scale objects from around the site to be displayed, meaning those spaces could be developed for alternative uses.
Visitors to 3 Slip ‘The Big Space’ can see a collection of dockyard machinery, alongside Royal Engineers bridge-building equipment and, most recently, items from Imperial War Museums.
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
Steam, Steel & Submarines
2012
Museum of the Royal Dockyard becomes the Steam, Steel & Submarines gallery, telling the story of the Dockyard from expansion in 1832 to closure in 1984.
The gallery is formally opened on 12 May 2012 by Admiral Boyce KG GCB OBE DL.
The Sail & Colour Loft is regenerated for commercial use within a residential area of the site – a significant achievement.
It is opened on 24 May 2012 by long standing trustee John Spence OBE.
The Trust’s office occupies one of the units from this time until April 2018.
Another key tenant for the converted building is the University of Kent, whose Kent Business School post-graduate centre is here from 2012 until 2023.
hearts of oak
2013
The original Wooden Walls gallery undergoes a major refurbishment.
The new story follows retired Age of Sail Master Shipwright, John North and his grandson, on an immersive audio visual tour through the Mould Loft where the designs of Nelson’s VICTORY were made.
New technology was used to retell the story, maintaining the charm of the original gallery whilst meeting the expectations of 21st century visitors.
The updated gallery is opened by Hugh Robertson MP in May 2013.
Call the Midwife
2013
A 90 minute Call the Midwife walking tours is first launched.
Led by a midwife guide, fans of the show are able to get behind-the-scenes and see some of the real-life locations used during filming of the popular programme.
80 people put their names down for the first tours.
Due to increasing popularity and demand, this tour is relaunched in 2018 in partnership with Neal Street Productions and, most recently alongside a new gallery in 2023.
29 July
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall visit No.1 Smithery.
The Prince of Wales extends his patronage to the wider work of the Trust.
Image: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall
Decade four
2014 – 2024
Phoenix from the flames.
As the buildings within the walls of the Historic Dockyard fill to capacity, the Trust looks to further opportunities for growth and stimulation from the community.
“The regeneration of the site has taken nearly four decades to complete and today The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a vibrant and thriving mixed-use heritage estate; an award winning museum and visitor attraction, educational campus, commercial and residential estate, and filming location.
“The partnerships formed during this time and the milestones passed, have helped to deliver much-needed hope for the locality, whilst also placing Chatham on the international stage as a destination not just for education and creativity but also as the most preserved Dockyard of the age of sail.”
Richard Morsley, Chief Executive, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust
2016
Command of the Oceans opens.
2018 & 2023
The Fitted Rigging House North (2018) & South (2023) is converted into high specification commercial space to expand the Trust’s tenanted portfolio.
2020
A global pandemic forces the Historic Dockyard to close to visitors and sees the team create a range of digital engagement from home.
2024
Docking Station is granted planning permission. The Police Section House will be converted to a state of the art facility for creative industries in partnership with the University of Kent’s Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries.
2014
22 September
A First World War centenary commemoration event is hosted at the Historic Dockyard to mark the sinking of the three Chatham-manned cruisers HMS ABOUKIR, HMS HOGUE and HMS CRESSY.
The occasion includes a commemorative drumhead service, during which the lifebelts from the three cruisers (on loan from Imperial War Museums) are displayed. There are performances from the Royal Marines Band and a plaque unveiling.
The event is supported and attended by HRH The Duke of Kent, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, First Sea Lord and the Royal Navy.
Families of those lost during the sinking are invited to attend and share their memories, which are recorded on the day by collections staff and volunteers.
A temporary exhibition is developed using these stories and research, which tours local libraries in Kent and appears at the National Maritime Museum.
This project additionally involves a one-day workshop, where artist Vanessa Rolf works with local sea cadets to create a commemorative mural based on the loss of the three cruisers. This work is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Command of the Oceans galleries is officially opened. This is a significant capital project with multiple funders including Heritage Lottery Fund.
Image: Admiral Sir Trevor Soar and Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Boyce
This enables a new visitor entrance – a modular build constructed in Spain, considered a very innovative design.
This project also enables further INVINCIBLE collection to be displayed and interpreted and the NAMUR timbers to be displayed to the public for the first time.
The project is key in terms of learning, preservation and engagement outcomes and is a RIBA Stirling prize finalist – setting a high standard for future projects.
It also sees the Trust’s first online collection launched – key items from the INVINCIBLE collection are documented and digitised, engaging a wider audience beyond the walls of the physical heritage site.
“Richard Holdsworth and I sat down with a pint and said – let’s agree we’ll never do any project or activity that isn’t better than the best we’ve done. No.1 Smithery was the first big one we did, and Command of the Oceans was the last big one I oversaw. it’s nationally significant in the way it’s delivered and in its brilliant architecture. We always aimed to be better than the last thing we did.”
Bill Ferris
Visitor Entrance
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
new chairman
2016
Sir Ian Garnett steps down as Chairman of the Board.
Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE DL is appointed as the new Chairman.
He recently retired from a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, culminating in Commander in Chief Fleet from 2009-2012.
Early in his career, Sir Trevor was Commander of HM Submarine OCELOT from 1987-1990. Sir Trevor was very keen to take on this new challenge and has overseen a number of key capital projects since taking up this position.
Sir Trevor pays tribute to the work of his predecessors:
“They have led the transformation of the dockyard from a state of dilapidation to its present position of pre-eminence. Their hard work, ambition and entrepreneurial approach over the last 40 years has been instrumental in the dockyard becoming the most complete and best preserved dockyard of the Age of Sail in the world.”
Sir Trevor Soar
fitted rigging house north
2017 – 2018
An £8.2 million project to convert the Fitted Rigging House North begins supported by various funders including National Heritage Lottery Fund and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport.
It is officially opened in October 2018 by Michael Ellis MP.
Economic Benefit
An economic impact study undertaken by DC Research shows the Dockyard has an annual benefit to the local economy of c.£30m.
Fitted Rigging House North
(Move the arrow left and right to see before and after photographs)
A global pandemic
2020
February
Fitted Rigging House project is completed.
As part of the project, the Steam, Steel and Submarines gallery is refurbished, the Trust’s Reading Room, archive and conservation lab are relocated into purpose-built spaces within the building.
March – COVID PANDEMIC
Government measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 forces the Historic Dockyard to close to visitors on 17 March.
The estate continues to operate to support residents and commercial businesses.
APRIL
Under government restrictions staff work from home or are placed on furlough.
Digital experiences are developed and delivered by a core team of non-furloughed staff, continuing to fulfil the Trust’s charitable purpose of learning. Successful digital engagement is delivered through “Museum from Home” activity.
July
Government lockdown restrictions relax allowing the Dockyard to reopen to paying visitors but within very tight guidelines (making an incredibly short visitor season). The Dockyard operates under the national campaign “We’re good to Go” highlighting specific safety measures are in place.
SEPTEMBER
Richard Morsley is appointed as the Trust’s new Chief Executive, replacing Bill Ferris who held the position since December 2000.
2021
The Trust continues fundraising , and is awarded £2.2m funding from the Levelling Up Fund to develop Fitted Rigging House South.
This will fulfil the Trust’s ambition of being financially independent, not reliant on external funding, which is a hugely significant milestone for both the Trust and the entire heritage site.
Alongside the Fitted Rigging House South development, the Docking Station project is also awarded Levelling Up funding.
This ground-breaking hub for digital creative industries will be run by the University of Kent’s Institute for Cultural and Creative Industries. The Police Section House will be transformed into a new digital facility, with hi-tech studios for digital production, research and innovation with spaces for teaching and business development.
Upon completion in late 2025, this will be the Trust’s 48th Scheduled Ancient Monument in its portfolio.
“The Docking Station in partnership with the University of Kent and Medway Council, will create a centre for the creative industries opening up new opportunities for the future. As a Trust we actively seek opportunities, and have the agility and ambition that not many organisations have to be dynamic and take things forward.”
Sir Trevor Soar
2022
February
His Royal Highness Prince Charles visits the Dockyard, in his role as patron.
His Majesty King Charles III began his association with the Trust on a visit to open the new Royal Dockyard Library in 2006. He then became Patron to the No.1 Smithery project in 2007 during its initial development. Following a visit to officially open No.1 Smithery, his patronage was extended to the wider work of the Trust in April 2013.
Image: Fred and Jan Cordier cutting the rope to officially open the new Ropery Gallery.
April
HM Submarine OCELOT celebrates her 60th anniversary.
July
The highest civic distinction, the Freedom of Medway, is officially granted to the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (CHDT) and Chatham Branch of the Royal Naval Association (RNA) to recognise the contribution their members made to the Falklands conflict, 40 years ago.
The formal presentation of two Freedom scrolls to Dennis Potter, Chairman of Chatham RNA and Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE DL, Chairman of the Trust, takes place in September 2023.
Autumn
A fundraising campaign is launched to garner support for No 1 Smithery for significant adaptations to be made to enhance user access, collection display and environmental performance. A grant is received from DCMS/Wolfson Galleries and Improvement Fund.
The Historic Dockyard is awarded the prestigious Gold accolade from VisitEngland in the annual Attraction Accolades for the quality of its visitor experience.
November
The Kent and Medway Museum Partnership is awarded a second award by Arts Council England as National Portfolio Organisation (NPO).
The museum consortium, led by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, with three partners: Canterbury Museums & Galleries, Medway Council’s Guildhall Museum Rochester and The Amelia Scott – Tunbridge Wells, receives £748,524 from the Arts Council England investment programme.
December
The Trust launches its first Christmas experience, Mission Christmas, which welcomes c. 8,000 visitors during a period when the Dockyard is traditionally closed for winter.
2023
March
A multi-million pound grant from the DCMS Cultural Development Fund to support the Docking Station is announced by Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, Lord Parkinson, following £5.6m already received from the Government as part of Medway Council’s successful Round 1 Levelling Up Fund bid.
april
The cast of BBC’s Call The Midwife open new gallery and official location tour.
Visitors to the tour are guided through the site by their very own costumed Midwife, armed with a photograph book and tales of their ‘sisters’, before being allowed to explore the sets, costumes and props in the all-new, exclusive gallery, which is twice the size of the former gallery.
The learning provision at the Historic Dockyard receives the esteemed Sandford Award for high achievement in heritage education.
September
MidKent College agrees the lease for its new Medway School of Arts at The Sail & Colour Loft with students starting courses this month.
With the closure of the Rochester UCA campus in the April, this ensures the continuation of university-level creative education in Medway.
This new tenancy aligns with the Dockyard’s history of innovation and education and enables the Trust to play an important role in expanding Medway’s creative sector.
November
The Fitted Rigging House South is officially opened by the Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport the Rt. Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP.
2024
January
The Docking Station, The University of Kent’s ground-breaking hub for digital creative industries, moves a step closer to reality as Medway Council planning committee approves the plans.
“The Docking Station project is the next logical step for the Trust to be involved in – it will preserve a significant historic building, create new public realm, boost civic pride, drive economic development and bring world class digital opportunities to the region. A fitting project with which to mark the 40th anniversary since the closure of the Dockyard, Docking Station will help us look forward to the next 40 years of innovation and creativity in Chatham.”
Richard Morsley
Acknowledgements
A huge number of people have given their time in helping us to compile this timeline. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed, including Sir Ian Andrews, Alan Bates, Lionel Beard, Linda Brown, Rodney Chambers, Derek Dray, Bill Ferris, Sir Ian Garnett, Richard Holdsworth, Robert Hotham, Nigel Howard, Paul Hudson, David Lawrence, John Masters, John Nicholas, Tony Peacock, Steve Prouse, John De Rose, Peter Sargison, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, John Spence, Clive Stanley, David Wadhams, Pam Wood, Tony Woollett, David Wray.
