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Chatham Dockyard

From the mid 16th to late 17th Centuries Chatham was the most important Naval Dockyard in England and its Commissioner held a seat and a vote on the Navy Board in London.

Chatham Dockyard, situated on the river Medway, was a major naval base during the reigns of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I. Elizabeth visited the yard in 1573. The dockyard was transferred from its original location at the present gun wharf, to the present site around 1622.

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The Treasurer of the Navy?s accounts of the King?s Exchequer for the year 1544 identifies Deptford as the Dockyard that carried out all the major repairs to the King?s Ships that year. Peter Pett, of the family of shipwrights whose history is so closely connected to the Chatham dockyard was appointed first ?Master Shipwright? for Chatham in about 1545.

In 1547 ?Jillingham water? as Chatham Dockyard was then known, is mentioned as second only in its importance to Deptford, a result of Chatham?s close proximity to London, and particularly the ?King?s Palace? of Greenwich. Following which Woolwich, Portsmouth, Harwich were listed in such order of succeeding importance. By 1550 the ships that were then lying off Portsmouth were ordered, by reason of its superior strategic location to be harboured in ?Gillingham Water?.

Chatham dockyard history in breif:

Camden during the reign of Elizabeth described Chatham dockyard as "stored for the finest fleet the sun ever beheld, and ready at a minutes warning, built lately by our most gracious sovereign Elizabeth at great expense for the security of her subjects and the terror of her enemies, with a fort on the shore for its defence."

During the Elizabethan wars with Spain it was usual for ships to anchor at Chatham in reserve, consequently John Hawkins threw a massive chain across the river Medway for extra defence.

King James I likewise saw the importance of Chatham dockyard, and employed it for a meeting in 1606 with King Christian of Denmark, who was received with a wonderful salute, after which they dined on board one of the ships.

The growing importance of the dockyard was illustrated between 1619-20 with the addition of two new mast ponds, additional land was required on which a dock, storehouse, and various brick and lime kilns were planned.

Another dock was opened in 1623, in which year Hawkin's chain was replaced with a boom of masts, iron, cordage, and the hulls of two old ships, besides a couple of ruined pinnacles. This arrangement was again upgraded around 1645.

Daniel Defoe visited the yard in 1705, and spoke of its achievements with an almost incredulous enthusiasm:

"So great is the order and application there that a first-rate vessel of war of 106 guns, ordered to be commissioned by Sir Cloudesley Shovell, was ready in three days. At the time the order was given the vessel was entirely unrigged; yet the masts were raised, sails bent, anchors and cables on board, in that time".

The renewed outbreak of war with Spain demonstrated the need for such readyness, and in 1710 land was ordered to be bought to improve the dockyard. The largest classes of ships were built at Chatham in the years that followed.

By the year 1770 the establishment had so expanded that, including the gun wharf it streached a mile in length, and included an area of in excess of 95 acres, possessing four slip ways and four large docks.

The officers and men employed in the yard also increased, and by 1798 they numbered 1664, including 49 officers and clerks, with 624 shipwrights. Additionally required were the blockmakers, caulkers, pitch-heaters, blacksmiths, joiners, carpenters, sail makers, riggers, and ropemakers (274), as well as bricklayers, labourers and others.

The importance of the dockyard during during the 18th century up to the Great War required the necessity of inland defences in the shape of earthworks and forts.

These were to become known as the Chatham Lines. The Inner Lines enclosed the dockyard, barracks, the dockyard church of St Mary's, and the old town of Brompton, with the Outer Lines given up to the open space above then used for military manoeuvres.

Sir Edward Gregory, who retired in 1703 (Clerk of the Cheque at Chatham for nearly 20 years), had been the last civilian to hold office as Commissioner of the yard.

The last Resident Commissioner was Captain Charles Cunningham whose retirement, in 1829, led to the dockyard being placed temporarily under the inspection of Captain J M Lewes, Resident Commissioner at Sheerness.

Captain, (later Admiral), Sir Charles Bullen was the first Superintendent, being appointed in December 1831, and invested with the same power and authority as the former Commissioners, except in matters requiring an Act of Parliament to be submitted by the Commissioner of the Navy.

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Modern times:

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A unique reference to original dockyard area has been offered:

From the will of a Chatham churchwarden, Richard Holborne, Shipwright at the old dockyard, a quaint and intriguing description of that area of Chatham then part of the Dockyard survives.

It includes a reference to his "ould house...as it is now fenced with the brewing house and garden joyning it with the belle now standing... and the wharfe in the millponde...unto the fence of James Marsh...to have ingresse, egresse, and regresse through that way unto the waterside or water gate...and...the greate Gate Westward...and the...pumpe".

By reference to the Chatham parish Churchwarden accounts it is clear that this cousin of Phineas Pett named Richard (Hoborn) was to to hold the post of Churchwarden from 1634 to 1643, curiously as was his son in law Joseph Pett. Richard was to die in 1654, a year after, and possibly as a result of the stress caused by the ?Adderley Inquest? at Chatham, (a matter covered in the page: Peter Pett).