chatham dockyard old apprentices

At around the same time a large house was leased (the Hill House) for administrative purposes including meetings of the Council of Marine Causes. [34] Also with the 20th century came the submarine. It has several themed areas with traditional maritime buildings, a fishing (though in looks only) village with its multi-coloured houses and a modern energy-efficient concept. He has two sons Samuel, 35, and Lloyd, 39, who went into engineering. Each member of the group was a recorder in the dockyard around fifty years ago, with some joining as young apprentices. After completion of the new dock in 1821, reconstruction of the other docks in stone followed (with the exception of the northernmost, which was converted into a slipway); they were likewise emptied using steam power, provided by the same engine and pumps (which were also linked to a network of pipes installed across the whole dockyard site for firefighting purposes). dailyinfo[20]=' 3/1423 Private John QUINN 2nd Bn. document.write; He was admitted to Chatham Hospital on 30th June 1915 but doesnt specify RNH. ), electric & acetylene welding and the Blacksmiths shop.In travelling along Dock Road my memories go back to the check-in booths where we were checked against our photo and a recent trip along Luton Road recalled the many hours spent at the Dockyard Apprentices Club.At one stage in my Naval career, I served as a Shipwright Training Instructor at H.M.S Caledonia at Rosyth in Scotland where the Naval Shipwright training was subsequently transferred I have many more memories, too many to relate here but I hope these will be sufficient to remind others reading this of happy times spent in the Dockyard.Wed Apr 1 19:45:59 2009, Chris Townsend - Now from ChathamI clearly remember visiting Chatham Navy Dockyard during the 1970s as a boy. Chatham Naval Dockyard, Kent. [20], Among the vessels built in this Dockyard which still exist are HMSVictory (launched in 1765 and now preserved at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard)[22] and HMSUnicorn (a Leda-class frigate), launched in 1824 and now preserved afloat at Dundee). [125], With the failure of Upnor Castle, it was seen necessary to increase the defences. Now at the age of 77, there's nothing he'd like more than to meet up with the lads whom he forged a close bond with as teenagers to talk about old times. [128], Within the space of 20 years, Chatham Barracks had taken on an additional role as the Army Dept of Recruits and Invalids: accommodating 'a mixed mass of people, viz. 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Do you know of any detailed records of casualties passing through Chatham RNH. He was Petty Officer Evan Thomas Ellis MZ205. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. [27] It was partly to address this problem that the Admiralty undertook a huge building programme at Chatham, between 1862 and 1865, which quadrupled the size of the yard and provided specialist facilities for steam-powered ships with metal hulls. who died 02/05/1915 BABY 700 CEMETERY, ANZAC Turkey (including Gallipoli) ' Did you or your family, work there on the ships? At the time of its closure the dockyard covered 400 acres (1.6km2). Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry who died 20/04/1915 YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL Belgium ' While they retained command over the naval personnel on site, and responsibility for the base as a whole,[114] their oversight of the work of the dockyard was transferred to new civilian Dockyard General Managers, who had management responsibility across all Departments. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, [33], Nevertheless, Light cruisers and other smaller vessels continued to be built at Chatham during the first half of the 20th century. (Gunpowder, on the other hand, was received, stored and issued across the river at Upnor Castle. dailyinfo[28]=' 76274 Corporal Horace John Baker WHITTINGHAM 1st Bn. 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 . 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. [134], In 1928 Chatham Barracks was taken over by the Royal Engineers and renamed Kitchener Barracks. The dockyard, always pulled together and pulled out all the stops to get things done, especially for the navy. Land was purchased to the northeast for its construction, and the new saw mill began operation in 1814. This was a somewhat unusual apprenticeship as we were required to sign on with the Royal Navy for twelve years from the age of eighteen, part of which was to complete a 4 year apprenticeship in Chatham Dockyard. They lived in Chatham, in Old Brompton, some in Rochester and Strood, but by far the greatest number in New Brompton and Gillingham, and the similarity of much of that district to a Midland or Northern industrial town was due to dockyard workers many of whom had come from the North. He was Collingwood Battalion RND. It now houses, South Dock Pumping Station 1822, designed by, Commissioner's House 1704. A primary school (St. Mary's CofE) and a medical centre provide facilities for the residents and there are attractive walks around the Island. If you have memories of Chatham in the Dockyard's heyday then tell us your stories. At the same time, the nearby village of Brompton began to be developed to provide housing for the dockyard's growing workforce. These may be answered face-to-face in the case of the Reading Room collections or by telephone, letter, or email for our archive and object holdings. Went to Navy Days, both as a toddler with my parents and later as 8-10 yr old with school friends. Although the yard focused mainly on refitting and repairs, some shipbuilding continued to take place. He first started his apprenticeship when he was sent to the ropery on his first day by accident. The dockyard closed in the 1980s and is now a museum. We understand that memories of this nature can be challenging and sometimes uncomfortable to talk about. Apprentices of Chatham Dockyard - Particularly 1956 to 1961. 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). Initially, soldiers were housed under canvas or else billetted in houses and inns, but from the 18th century barracks began to be constructed. The permanent residents were the dockyard men. So the boys did, they wore ties. It is, Commissioner's Garden dating from 1640. She said plans to upgrade her garden, part of her retirement after 38 years in the NHS, have now been put on hold, People with these 57 health conditions can get more than 400 a month from DWP, The support is available to millions of people, Plymouth Civic Square improvements are starting to take shape. dailyinfo[27]=' Flight Sub-Lieutenant Andrew John BODDY H.M.S. Mike tells me that last year he won the top award in the Society for All Artists, Artist of the Year competition. Nonetheless, the dockyard closed, as planned, on 31 March 1984.[40]. Money was only made available for one such installation, however, and Chatham (as the principal building yard at this time) was chosen as its location. For Joe, the group is special as they share stories from a 'bygone age that no longer exists'. n There was a great reaction to my picture here of some of the old Radio Victory presenters. Glenn, USA, "My Grandfather worked in the dockyard, he was a shipbuilder and worked night and day during the WW2. Remembered Today: Some Great War periods covered in these newly-transcribed records: https://thedockyard.co.uk/the-collections/ledgers/. Fred Cordier has worked in the ropery at Chatham Dockyards for over 40 years. ", Keith added: "I liked all our antics, [in the dockyard] you had to have a sense of humour.". [110], On 5 September 1971 all Flag Officers of the Royal Navy holding positions of Admiral Superintendents at Royal Dockyards were redesignated as Port Admirals. They were given a tour of Chatham Historic Dockyard, now an award-winning tourist venue, and visited the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham. [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. if (year < 1000) year+=1900 For England this will usually mean one ofthe following six Royal Navy dockyards (the years in brackets are opening and closing dates): For details of more Royal Navy dockyards, both in the UK and overseas, see the Appendix. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. [23], Following the appointment of Robert Seppings as Master Shipwright in 1804, iron began to be introduced into the structure of ships being built at Chatham; the following year work began on a new, much larger smithery, commissioned by Samuel Bentham, designed by Edward Holl and fitted out by John Rennie. In 1717 the original Storehouse was replaced with the Grand Store (a much larger three-storey building, contemporary with and of a similar style to, the Main Gatehouse in the Dockyard). Use our catalogue to search within the records series listed below. Documents are usually arranged by yard, so for most searches it is vital to know the name of the yard where the person worked. This aerial photograph shows the dry docks at Chatham Dockyard. The indenture was a contract signed by the apprentice, the parent / guardian and the Admirality on satisfactory completion of a 3 month probation period. [20], Dockyards have always required shore defences. Mike, a freelance presenter who presented a Sunday evening show called Go North, covered countryside pursuits, book reviews and interviews with Portsmouth personalities. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Another, Mike North, got in touch and sent me his cartoon of the staff who were there when the station closed. I later worked on such ships as HMS Lincoln, Warspite, Spitfire, Torquay, Hebe, Vidal, Hydra and many many more. 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 It has been Grade I listed since August 1999. dailyinfo[5]=' CH/316(S) Private Jack WILSON Chatham Bn. dailyinfo[26]=' Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Gordon CADE Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross and Bar, Three times Mentioned in Despatches Middlesex Regiment who died 26/04/1918 TYNE COT MEMORIAL Belgium ' The ground floor were built as offices, the first floor contained reception rooms with bedrooms above. We worked together from 7am to 4.30pm and earned 2, 13 shillings and two pence a week.". Buy from bookshop. The senior officers of a victualling yard were: The victualling yards reported to a Victualling Board, which in turn reported to the Navy Board. var dailyinfo= new Array(31) If either yourself, a friend or relative has a story they would like to share with us, we would love to hear it. Thanks seaJane. The escalating Anglo-Dutch wars forced their hand, however: several temporary buildings were hastily erected in Sheerness, at the mouth of the Medway, to enable ships to re-arm, re-victual and (if necessary) be repaired as quickly as possible. Anchor Wharf, The Historic Dockyard, Cashiers' Office 18th century. [20] Another novel application of steam power was embarked on in 1817, with the building of a 'Lead and Paint Mill', in which a single beam engine powered a rolling mill and a series of devices for grinding pigment and mixing paint; the plant was operational from 1819. We receive enquiries from all over the world covering a wide range of different subjects. The group would welcome any recorder from the Dockyard who would like to join the group. [130] During this time, Chatham Dept provided basic training for new recruits. CSC 10 for marks and results of examinations of dockyard and artificer apprentices from 1876; Board of Trade papers (1846-1895) Find references to apprenticeships in the indexes to papers . research. Almost Full. He says for the first three months of the apprenticeship he was given no tools and distinctly remembers the big 'awful sacks' [overalls] they used to wear. It came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with . [15] (The old site was in due course transferred to the Ordnance Board, who established the gun wharf there.) The 'old boys' who were recorders in the Dockyard and still meet up for a pint. Production ramped up during World War II with HMS's Umpire, Una, Splendid, Sportsman, Shalimar, Tradewind, Trenchant, Turpin, Thermopylae and Acheron being constructed. Built immediately to the north of the Smithery (the intervening space was later infilled with the Smithery extension of 1867). When a new boss joined the recorders' division in the 1970s, he informed the employees 'You will all wear ties,' said John. There were 75 bays erected at Chatham Dockyard, to hold three years worth of timber. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. "It was all about companionship and camaraderie really," added Keith. [26] Another hint of changes to come was seen in the launch of HMS Aetna, the first armour-plated vessel to be built at Chatham, in 1856. Built on the site of what had been the convict prison, the barracks complex could accommodate 4,742 officers and seamen in a series of large blocks built along the length of a terrace. Before 1832 dockyards were run entirely by naval officers who were civilian employees of the Navy Board, not Admiralty sea officers. Greetings to all the Chatham Dockyard Apprentices that began their long journeys 65 years ago on the 10th September 1956 and are still standing,as well as those before and after. In 1812 the Royal Engineers Establishment was founded within the barracks to provide instruction in military engineering. Captain of the Dockyard's House 19th century. There was an annual intake of some 300 boys between 15 and 16 years old in two intakes September and January. - David, Germany, "From 1980-1984 I sold newspapers on board all the ships that docked in the yard, I was a young lad of 11 when I started, and only stopped after my father was transferred to Plymouth Dockyard in 1985. My best wishes go out to all my old friends. My Grandad had already retired by the time the Dockyard was due to close, but I remember me, my mum and dad going down to Devenport to see the Dockyard there as my dad was thinking of relocating us down there. [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. As a result, it was acknowledged by 1771 that Chatham had no future as a front-line fleet base;[20] nevertheless, following a visit by the Admiralty Board in 1773, the decision was taken to invest further in Chatham, and to develop it as a building yard rather than a refitting base. And the men remember they had quite a strict deadline on a Friday afternoon. This information will help us make improvements to the website. [29], A significant disadvantage for Chatham was that fitting out had always taken place on the river. 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. Clocktower building 1723. Wed Aug 25 00:38:58 2004. Saw HMS Jamaica of Bismarck fame and I believe we saw HMS Manxman too in which a friend's uncle had served during WW2. Published 12th Mar 2018, 19:00 BST - 2 min read. Each has an 18th-century, Main gatehouse 1722, designed by the master shipwright in the style of. [41] The Georgian site is now a visitor attraction under the care of the Trust: Chatham Historic Dockyard. "Ted was living in the Maidstone area at . dailyinfo[11]=' Reservist Paul GROLIK 5./I.R.62 German Army who died 11/05/1917 EBBLINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY France ' dailyinfo[15]=' 6963 Private Albert CHRISTIE 1st Bn. Initially a purpose-built 'steam factory' was planned, but following the closure of Woolwich Dockyard in 1869 a number of slip covers were removed from that site and re-erected at the head of the new dry docks to serve as factories for building and fitting engines and for boilermaking. Starts from. I remember being in awe of the sheer size of it and the amount of hustle and bustle that was all about. However, as some men worked in both the dockyards and aboard ships across the course of their naval career, it is sometimes also worth looking for records of individuals, especially skilled workers (artificers or tradesmen), in Royal Navy records (as administered by the Admiralty Board). Please do get in touch with a member of the collections team if you have any questions about this project. )[119], A plan of 1704 shows (from north to south) a long Storehouse parallel to the river, the Storekeeper's house (the Storekeeper was the senior officer of the Yard) and a pair of Carriage Stores. For the first two years of his apprenticeship, he moved through the different ships, Brian recalled, and in his third year the skipper taught him, he said. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. The senior official of a Royal Navy dockyard was the commissioner, who was supported by other senior officers including: . I still sometimes wonder if my name I painted on a beam in the apprentice building with a 6" brush is still there. The chances of finding someone by name within this series are steadily improving as details are added to the online catalogue as part of the Navy Board cataloguing project. During their time together, he and his colleagues gelled and enjoyed years of "tomfoolery" and were sometimes reprimanded by trainers for their pranks. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, 3. Dockyard Church 1806. Click on the series references in the table below to browse the record descriptions by year ranges: Visit the National Maritime museum Caird Library website for other sources. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. [141], The Naval Barracks (later HMS Pembroke) opened in 1902; prior to this, most Naval (as opposed to Dockyard) personnel were accommodated on board their ships or on hulks moored nearby. The victualling yards, however, continued to be practically independent. We are currently exploring alternative, hidden histories within our collection and looking at broadening the range of voices we represent. We regret that The Historic Dockyard Chatham is unable to carry out personal research on your behalf. Designed by Edward Holl, it has a gallery supported on cast iron columns, one of the first uses of cast iron in the dockyard. Alongside the four dry docks it now had a total of six shipbuilding slips (equalling Deptford and outnumbering the other yards in this regard), albeit three of the six were under 150ft (46m) in length and suitable only for building smaller warships. The building functioned as a "present use store" except for the upper floor, which was a, Sail and Colour Loft 1723. The annual intake was usually restricted to ten applicants and we were required to attend the Dockyard School for three years and pay a weekly visit to the Royal Navy Barracks gym and swimming pool for training sessions by naval personnel.Our apprenticeship covered many departments including the Boat House, Mast House, Drawing Office, Joiners Shop, Paint Shop, Plumbing, Ship Repairs (rivetting, caulking etc. 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. The officers all had servants, who were provided with their own accommodation in the garret. Some dockyards have changed their name so you may need to search using the alternative names or the dockyard locations provided in above and in the appendix (you can also browse seriesADM 42 to get an idea of what dockyards are covered by the records). "If you were in trouble, if you had a problem, there was always someone there to support you," recalled Joe. The dates shown represent the tax paid by the Masters for their Apprentices. No 4, 5 and 6 Slips 1848. Therefore, rather than risk being constrained by wind, tide and draught on a journey upriver, ships would seek as often as possible to do running repairs and maintenance while at anchor, and would only travel to the dockyard when necessary. The decision established Chatham as the country's premier naval industrial complex; nevertheless, concerns were already being raised over its river being prone to silting. Initial enquires are responded to within 28 days. [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. Chatham's establishment as a naval dockyard was precipitated by the use of the Medway as a safe anchorage by the ships of what became (under King Henry VIII) England's permanent Royal Navy. 10,499 / mo*. Dad worked on the submarines for years, and only left when the Dock Yard closed, Many people would have know him as Nobby, but sadly passed away . Additional flight to evacuate Britons from Sudan today, Tributes paid to singer Gordon Lightfoot following death, Marks &Spencer to close stores in May - full list of closures, HMV to reopen original flagship store after four year closure, Mller recall Cadbury desserts because of Listeria contamination, Nurses strike continues: Major disruption for NHS services in England. In 1758, there were 43 pairs of. By 1611 Chatham had been chosen as its location (in preference to Deptford, which at the time was the nation's principal naval shipbuilding yard; this led to speculation that Deptford was going to be sold off). The man did, John says, and told his boss he had a hacksaw between his teeth so he could fish for swordfish. This guide will help you find records of the staff of Royal Navy dockyards, victualling yards and other naval establishments from around the 1920s or before. Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham (at its most extensive, in the early 20th century, two-thirds of the dockyard lay in Gillingham, one-third in Chatham). 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'. [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. Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent.Established in Chatham in the mid-16th century, the dockyard subsequently expanded into neighbouring Gillingham (at its most extensive, in the early 20th century, two-thirds of the dockyard lay in Gillingham, one-third in Chatham).. 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. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday 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. The weekend event was organised by Tony Gray, who at 66 is still working part-time as a consultant. Dockyard personnel documents are usually arranged by yard, so for most searches it is vital to know the name of the yard where the person worked.