This trail is part of Curating for Change, an initiative funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered in partnership with Accentuate and Screen South, providing opportunities for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people, to pursue a curatorial career in Museums.
The ‘Disability Trailblazers’ has been researched and curated by Curating for Change Fellow Suchi Chatterjee. Suchi has been working with a volunteer Co-Production Group to uncover and share disability history connected to Chatham Dockyard and the Royal Navy.
Follow the trail around the Dockyard and uncover the hidden lives of disabled people through time.
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Audio Descriptive Trail Introduction:
BSL Trail Introduction:
Stop 1
Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson: a man with many disabilities both visible and invisible.
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Stop 2
Billy Waters: the African American sailor who joined the Royal Navy.
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Stop 3
The Chatham Chest: Sir John Hawkins and disabled sailors.
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Stop 4
Discover more about HM Submarine OCELOT through our audio tour.
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Stop 5
Access to a Second World War Destroyer.
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Stop 6
The Surgery and the Medical Services at Chatham Dockyard.
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Stop 7
See the Rope Fender made by blind crafts people and find out what’s inside the mystery box.
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Stop 8
The Surgeon’s medical chest – a Surgeon’s Role at the Dockyard and at sea.
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Stop 9
Ivor Jeffrey and the King’s Badge.
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Stop 10
Merryweather and Jarvis: A Tale of Two Painters.
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Every effort has been made to ensure maximum accessibility for all visitors to The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
The Disability Trailblazers guide is available in braille format. You can collect one on your arrival simply head to “Plan Your Visit” and ask our staff for a copy. Please return your copy at the end of your visit.
We have worked with AccessAble to create individual access guides to our galleries and spaces. These guides give you the detailed information you need to work out if a space is going to be accessible to you. Click on the button below to view the full set of guides.
Audio Descriptive Trail Credits:
Music: Broom Bezzums ‘Kitty Will You Marry Me’ by kind permission of Andrew Cadie.