chatham dockyard old apprentices

Co Live Sunrise Narendra 1, Purnima Niwas, 3rd Main Rd, Doddanekundi, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560037, India. The majority of its buildings are still standing, several of them occupied by the Universities at Medway. Also, after a reunion in 1993 at Gravesend Rowing Club, Terry said the whereabouts of two of the attendees, John Doggett and Ted Leftley, is now unknown. The barracks remained in military use until 2014. The records covered are for yards in the UK and abroad. We worked together from 7am to 4.30pm and earned 2, 13 shillings and two pence a week.". asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of apprentices that entered Chatham Dockyard in each of the years 1974 to 1977; and what is the projected number for 1978 (a) as craft entries and (b) as technician entries. Three decades after the last tradesmen laid down their tools, three ex-workers tell their story. The following year a forge was built for anchor-making. Similar but smaller blocks to the north and south housed ancillary services, such as the pay office, infirmary and Quartermaster's stores. [37] (In the event, the barracks were reprieved and repurposed rather than being closed at this stage. My best wishes go out to all my old friends. Wed Aug 25 00:38:58 2004. The Dock would be filled with all types of Naval ships, decked out with flags & crew dressed in their dress uniforms. From 1844 St Mary's was used as an 'Invalid Barracks', accommodating soldiers having to return from service in different parts of the British Empire because of illness, injury or age. By 1619, the new dockyard consisted of a new dry dock and wharf with storehouses, all enclosed within a brick perimeter wall. Wed Apr 8 12:02:25 2009. [46], The remaining 350 acres (1.4km2) were transferred to the government's urban regeneration agency (later English Partnerships). Three ex-Chatham Dockyard workers Brian Jenkins, Barry Stevens and John Prices may vary with room occupancy and attributes. The fire-fighting displays were actually good education for us, as were all the displays of engineering, diving and damage control.Later I went in a group of school cadets to see the launch of the submarine HMS Onslaught, built at Chatham.Whilst a member of the Kent Police Force, I acted as an interpreter for a party of visiting French police officers and their wives and we were shown through the rope-making loft where HMS Victory's ropes had been made. We understand that memories of this nature can be challenging and sometimes uncomfortable to talk about. [32] (The older slipways, by contrast, were proving much too small and they were mostly filled in around this time, their covered areas being put to alternative uses.) I was on board HMS Hermoine when she left the yard for the last time, I was one of the guests of honour, a great experience for a young lad of 15. " Medway Council offices and car park now stand on the site. I clearly remember visiting Chatham Navy Dockyard during the 1970s as a boy. Clocktower building 1723. Canadian Infantry who died 07/05/1917 VIMY MEMORIAL France ' Constructed from timber recycled from warships probably from the. What's for dinner? Our Collections Team has recently begun the process of digitising our collection and we are gradually adding new objects to our digital resources. The dockyard, always pulled together and pulled out all the stops to get things done, especially for the navy. The dates shown represent the tax paid by the Masters for their Apprentices. The surviving records for dockyard workers tend to be various kinds of records of pay, including muster books (but not after the mid-19th century) and pension records. A primary school (St. Mary's CofE) and a medical centre provide facilities for the residents and there are attractive walks around the Island. ! Some older yard pay books and muster books are archived at The National Archives at Kew. Those that we have in our collections are ones that have been donated to us, usually by families of former dockyard workers or Chatham Ratings. dailyinfo[25]=' 1720 Private Sidney ORDERS 1st Bn. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. seaJane. Diners evacuated from busy Plymouth restaurant and bar, The venue thanked customers for their patience, Plymouth Argyle Home Park attendance figures this season second highest in 60 years, Steven Schumacher has paid tribute to the fans after the Pilgrims won 20 of their 23 League One games at the Theatre of Greens, Seven changes Plymouth Argyle and their fans will notice in the Championship, Steven Schumacher's Pilgrims have booked a place in the second tier of English football for the first time since 2010, Heartbroken family pay tribute to man killed outside Cornwall nightclub, Police have been allowed more time to question a man arrested on suspicion of murder. The site was first used in 1547, but its busiest period was in the 19th century when 2 ships every year were being launched. [20] Holl's smithery was itself enlarged with the addition of a foundry in the 1850s, and its courtyard was roofed over for a steam hammer shop in 1865. My grandad was an electrician working on the submarines and my dad was an engineer. North Mast Pond, 1702. [19], Seeking to alleviate this less-than-satisfactory situation, the Navy Board explored options for developing a shore facility with direct access from the open water of the Thames Estuary. It was somewhat unfortunate that, on the one occasion when it was required for actionthe Raid on the Medway, 1667the Dutch fleet were able to sail right past it to attack the English fleet and carry off the pride of the fleet, HMS Royal Charles, back to the Netherlands. Careening took place on the river, according to a Privy Council instruction of 1550;[7] for more specialised repairs and maintenance, however, ships would have had to travel to one of the purpose-built royal dockyards (the nearest being those on the Thames: Deptford and Woolwich). The growing importance of the dockyard was illustrated with the addition soon afterwards of a mast pond, and the granting of additional land on which a second (double) dry dock was constructed, along with a sail loft, a ropery and residences for the dockyard officers: all of which were completed by 1624. Just ties. The tarring process declined as, Iron Foundry 185561. We decided not to go, which I am glad about as all my family and friends are here and MY family now take advantage of the Dockyard." Sign up for a new account in our community. Mike tells me that last year he won the top award in the Society for All Artists, Artist of the Year competition. dailyinfo[20]=' 3/1423 Private John QUINN 2nd Bn. We were all in the same boat together and struck up an instant friendship, which we still have.. I became so attached to the place,(My Home Port!) The weekend event was organised by Tony Gray, who at 66 is still working part-time as a consultant. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. We can either copy our records onto paper or deliver them to you digitally, Visit us in Kew to see original documents or view online records for free, Consider paying for All of these Apprentices are bound to Masters whose names and trades are also included. The senior official of a Royal Navy dockyard was the commissioner, who was supported by other senior officers including: Clerks and foremen, known as inferior officers, supported the senior officers. [33], Nevertheless, Light cruisers and other smaller vessels continued to be built at Chatham during the first half of the 20th century. Mon Mar 30 20:01:32 2009, BBC Kent website, The Great Hall, Mount Pleasant Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1QQ. After the war's end, they went on to serve as a gunpowder store for a time, and were used by the Royal Engineers (based nearby in Brompton Barracks). Their website gives further information about the type of records they hold and how to search them. Also, is it definitely RNH? Welsh Regiment who died 31/03/1918 KARASOULI MILITARY CEMETERY Greece ' Under his supervision the site was developed to include sawpits, workshops, storehouses and a wharf with a treadmill crane (completed in 1580). I spent a couple of nights in the dormitory blocks, before joining Diamond and had a lot of laughs. Poor Law union indexes and papers (1836-1920) . The victualling yards, however, continued to be practically independent. [8], 1567 is generally seen as the date of Chatham's establishment as a Royal Naval Dockyard. Poland, 5 September 1950 May 1951, Rear-Admiral John Y. Thompson: October 1958 February 1961, Rear-Admiral I.William T. Beloe: February 1961 December 1963, Rear-Admiral George M.K. This is a story of the creation of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and its history, from Elizabethan origins to fleet base and shipbuilding yard . [127], In 2014 the site was sold to a property developer, with permission given the following year for the building of 295 homes. Thanks seaJane. Under its remit, the westernmost (No 1) Basin was turned into a marina, part of the former factory area to the south was transformed into an entertainment and retail complex ('Chatham Maritime') and the former Barracks (HMS Pembroke) became Universities at Medway. seaJane11 June , 2020 in Sailors, navies and the war at sea. Nicholas, South Africa, last updated: 26/03/2009 at 15:36created: 26/03/2009. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Thus deliveries of victuals, ordnance and other supplies were made by small boats, sailing regularly between Chatham and The Nore. (The covering of Chatham's slipways and dry docks, to protect the woodwork of ships as they were built or repaired, had begun with No 2 Slip and No 1 Dock in 1817). dailyinfo[13]=' Gefreiter Richard STROEBER 12./R.I.R.22 German Army who died 13/04/1918 ERQUINGHEM-LYS CHURCHYARD EXTENSION France ' For Joe, being in the dockyard was tradition. dailyinfo[14]=' 29919 Gunner Eric William BENJAFIELD 5th Bde. The man did, John says, and told his boss he had a hacksaw between his teeth so he could fish for swordfish. Three basins were constructed along St Mary's creek, from west to east: No 1 Basin (of 28 acres (110,000m2)), No 2 Basin (20 acres (81,000m2)) and No 3 Basin (21 acres (85,000m2)). Mr Elgar, 66, who lives in Hoo St Werburgh, was transferred to the naval base at Devenport after the Chatham closure in March 1984. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Charles Dickens (18121870), who had grown up in Chatham, returned in later life and described in 1861 the novel sight (and sounds) of a ship being built for the first time of iron (rather than wood): Twelve hundred men are working at her now; twelve hundred men working on stages over her sides, over her bows, over her sterns, under her keel, between her decks, down in her hold, within her and without, crawling and creeping into the finest curves of her lines wherever it is possible for men to twist. BBC - Kent - History - The workers My Grandad had already retired by the time the Dockyard was due to close." The records do not cover every yard in every year. Each has an 18th-century, Main gatehouse 1722, designed by the master shipwright in the style of. [20], View down the length of the former No 7 Dock towards No 1 Basin (now Chatham Marina), Remains of No 8 Machine Shop with No 1 Boiler Shop behind it, Dock pumping station (its 80ft chimney, formerly on the plinth to the right, has been removed), The Commissioner of Chatham Dockyard held a seat and a vote on the Navy Board in London. Visit Veterans UK to find out how to request a summary of a service record. There were two routes to entry. My son got good qualifications and worked in Formula 1 racing. [27], To meet the new demands of building in iron, metal mills were built alongside the smithery in 1845, containing rolling machinery and furnaces for reprocessing iron. ), The final boats constructed in Chatham were Oberon-class submarines Ocelot was the last vessel built for the Royal Navy, and the final vessel was Okanagan built for the Royal Canadian Navy and launched on 17 September 1966. It came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional defences. In 1550, a decree was issued to the Lord High Admiral that: all the Kinges shippes should be harborowed in Jillyngham Water saving only those that be at Portsmouth[5], Even prior to this, there is evidence of certain shore facilities being established in the vicinity for the benefit of the King's ships at anchor: there are isolated references from as early as 1509 to the hiring of a storehouse nearby[6] and from 1547 this becomes a fixed item in the Treasurer's annual accounts. Powered by Invision Community, Chatham Dockyard ledgers: employees, apprentices, etc, The West Africa squadron in the 1840s; naval medicine; First World War, especially in poetry, art and fiction, GWF is free to use so please support the Forum. The Grade II listed Park and Garden is getting a makeover to showcase some of its existing heritage features as well as reinstate some of the paving patterns that were part of its original design. The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment) who died 15/04/1915 CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY France ' Great days out, can still smell the hot dog stand with its fried onions. [36] The following series cover workers who retired or worked after 1832: Try, also, searching the Admiralty Miscellanea inADM 7(1563-1956). [21] Building works at Chatham did not compare with the substantial expansions underway at Portsmouth and Plymouth at this time; but the southern part of the yard was significantly redeveloped, with construction of two new storehouses on Anchor Wharf and a major reconfiguration of the ropery. "Ted was living in the Maidstone area at the time and I know he joined the fire service after leaving the dockyard.". At the same time, it was made clear that at Chatham "the dockyard will be retained; but the barracks and other naval establishments will be closed". [10], From the very start of the 18th century, however, Chatham began to be superseded in both size and importance, first by Portsmouth, then Plymouth, when the main naval enemy became France, and the Western approaches the chief theatre of operations. Nowhere in the world is it possible to see such an intact naval dockyard for the building and maintenance of the ships of the sailing navy as at Chatham. [47] St Mary's Island, a 150-acre (0.61km2), largely undeveloped area to the north of the three basins, was transformed into a residential community for some 1,500 homes. For Terry Hoare being an apprentice shipwright at Chatham Dockyard 60 years ago were the best days of his life. All these developments were to come together with the construction of HMS Achilles, in a newly expanded No 2 Dock, between 1860 and 1864: the first true iron-hulled battleship to be launched in a royal dockyard. Kent ME4 4TZ, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is a Registered Charity No. WIPS & CSR TEAM - Handing over of Old clothes, Books & Toys To Tata Power Mahila Bachat Gat - 20.01.2022. [48], Chatham Dockyard has become a popular location for filming, due to its varied and interesting areas such as the cobbled streets, church and over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. In 1832 the Navy Board was abolished and all yards and establishments, except gun wharves, were amalgamated under a single authority. Most of his duties were running passengers between Chatham and London. 'The apprenticeship at Chatham Dockyard is the finest in the world - if you stick to it, the world's your oyster' Robert Smith's dad told his teenage son. We are currently exploring alternative, hidden histories within our collection and looking at broadening the range of voices we represent. Contact Plymouth Live reporter Molly Dowrick: molly.dowrick@reachplc.com, and she'll put you in contact with a member of the group. He adds: I am in contact with four other apprentices John Bramble, Geoff Hillier, Barry Pickering and John Summerfield from the entry, but it would be nice to get a reunion gathering together. Captain Sir Thomas Bourchier, 20 September 1846 5 May 1849, Rear-Admiral A.L. Terry left a secondary school in Hoo with qualifications in metal work and technical drawing and, like many boys of his age, enrolled for apprenticeship at the yard, classed as one of the best in the world. R.N. ). Ultimately they meet up to share their dockyard memories and amusing stories. At around the same time the officers' blocks on the terrace were given over to provide accommodation for sergeants and married NCOs, the officers being provided with new quarters 'near the fortifications at Prince Henry's Bastion'. When Royal Dockyard Chatham closed in 1984 the Ministry of Defence removed all records still held on site. Chatham Dockyard ledgers: employees, apprentices, etc . Brunel Saw Mill 1814. (Hill House would serve as the dockyard's Pay Office for the next 180 years; the Royal Marine Barracks were later built on its site). It really did feel like one big family with a happy atmosphere. 93rd Infantry Bde. We regret that The Historic Dockyard Chatham is unable to carry out personal research on your behalf. See our research guides on Royal Navy ratings and Royal Navy warrant officers for more information. The oldest surviving naval storehouse in any Royal Dockyard. [20], In 1897 a new, even longer dry dock was opened on the north side of No 1 Basin: at its opening, this (No 9 Dock) was the largest in the world at 650ft (200m) long by 84ft (26m) wide.