chatham dockyard old apprentices

Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. This was a somewhat unusual . [46], The remaining 350 acres (1.4km2) were transferred to the government's urban regeneration agency (later English Partnerships). Under his supervision the site was developed to include sawpits, workshops, storehouses and a wharf with a treadmill crane (completed in 1580). At its height, it employed over 10,000 skilled artisans and covered 400 acres (1.6km2). 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. Bob Chalmers, from Warminster . 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. When young Robert started there in 1958, the docks employed 6000 people on a two-mile long site encompassing hundreds of workshops, offices and storehouses as well as its own police . 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).. Old Sweats; 9.3k Location: Somerset (Wiltshire/Dorset border) Interests: The West Africa squadron in the 1840s; naval medicine; First World War, especially in poetry . Kent ME4 4TZ, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is a Registered Charity No. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Both my Grandad and my Dad worked there. 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 . Plymouth Gladiators open their Championship campaign this evening when they welcome Scunthorpe Scorpions to the Coliseum. The oldest surviving barracks in the Chatham area is in Upnor; dating from 1718, it housed the detachment of 64 men responsible for guarding the gunpowder store in Upnor Castle. The main 1930s barracks building is being retained, along with the remaining earlier structures. 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. [138], A barracks was built in Brompton from 1804 to 1806 for the Royal Artillery gunners serving on the defensive Lines (previously they had been accommodated in the Infantry Barracks). dailyinfo[1]=' 61365 Private James LAVIN 1st Garrison Bn. The Dockyard led to large numbers of military personnel being garrisoned in Chatham and the surrounding area. Read the catalogue details for BT 19 to find related correspondence from various departments of the Board. This is the oldest surviving naval building in England. A primary school (St. Mary's CofE) and a medical centre provide facilities for the residents and there are attractive walks around the Island. The principal records and how to search for them, A guide to the naval records in The National Archives of the UK, Friends of The National Something that really sets our city apart is our historic dockyard and the thousands of amazing and hard-working people that have worked there over the years, each contributing to the largest naval base in Western Europe in different ways. Some older yard pay books and muster books are archived at The National Archives at Kew. It made do with a single shipbuilding slip for much of the 17th century (a second slip, dating from the same period, had fallen out of use; it was replaced in the 1730s). At the time of its closure the dockyard covered 400 acres (1.6km2). Along the southern edge of No 1 Basin four new dry docks were built (Nos 58), each 420ft (130m) long. The oldest surviving naval storehouse in any Royal Dockyard. Mon Mar 30 20:01:32 2009, BBC Kent website, The Great Hall, Mount Pleasant Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1QQ. Most significantly, Chatham's first dry dock was opened in 1581 (for repairing naval galleys). The barracks were set to close in 1961 when the majority of naval personnel were withdrawn from Chatham;[142] however, it went on to serve instead as the RN Supply and Secretariat School in succession to HMSCeres, before finally being closed along with the Dockyard in 1984. The dates shown represent the tax paid by the Masters for their Apprentices. Another member of the group, Brian Booker, 76, moved to Plymouth from Chatham in the South East and joined the dockyard in 1984, working there for six years before taking early retirement to care for his wife. Now, around ten 'old boys' meet every six weeks in the Union Street Wetherspoon to laugh about the old times. Read more: All the latest news from Medway. Camaraderie and companionship was important to all Dockyard employees, the boys say. - 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. In 1665, the Navy Board approved Sheerness as a site for a new dockyard, and building work began; but in 1667 the still-incomplete Sheerness Dockyard was captured by the Dutch Navy and used as the base for an attack on the English fleet at anchor in the Medway itself. Archives, Open Government Licence In 1758, there were 43 pairs of. 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. During their time together, he and his colleagues gelled and enjoyed years of "tomfoolery" and were sometimes reprimanded by trainers for their pranks. Regards Roger Haffenden. When Royal Dockyard Chatham closed in 1984 the Ministry of Defence removed all records still held on site. Anchor Wharf, The Historic Dockyard, He spent two years learning basic skills before going on "float" learning his trade of welding, machine fitting and repairs on board ships based in the basins and dry docks. I have a copy of his Army Form 103 Casualty Form that traces his movement from CCS in Gallipoli to RNH Malta (although Im not sure which one but probably Bighi) back to UK but after that Ive drawn a blank. Visit Of 26th Sub LT Tech (LOG) Course of SriLankan Navy on 22 . 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. Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. [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). Constructed from timber recycled from warships probably from the. Brian and John remember their Devonport Dockyard wage: 2 6s 2d a week (about 2.32), with no overtime for apprentices, but said at the time they were well looked after. Old royal dockyard hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy else { document.write(fontstart+"No major events today"+fontend); } We worked together from 7am to 4.30pm and earned 2, 13 shillings and two pence a week.". The storehouse would have furnished ships with such necessary consumables as rope, pulleys, sailcloth and timber. 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. 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). 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. The tarring process declined as, Iron Foundry 185561. It came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with . [39] Redundancy notices were served, but then abruptly withdrawn following the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands; the dockyard was heavily involved in preparing ships for the South Atlantic, and in repairing damaged vessels on their return. Mr Gray, who lives in Portsmouth, remarked on the differences which have taken place at the dockyard over the decades. [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. The first was by exam and accounted for about 125 apprentices and what was called the . Visit Veterans UK to find out how to request a summary of a service record. [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. Documents are usually arranged by yard, so for most searches it is vital to know the name of the yard where the person worked. For Joe, the group is special as they share stories from a 'bygone age that no longer exists'. [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. North Mast Pond, 1702. if (month<10) month="0"+month 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], At the same time, moves were being made towards the application of steam power to ship propulsion. Published 12th Mar 2018, 19:00 BST - 2 min read. "Ted was living in the Maidstone area at the time and I know he joined the fire service after leaving the dockyard.". Chatham Naval Dockyard, Kent. Nicholas, South Africa, last updated: 26/03/2009 at 15:36created: 26/03/2009. It was envisaged that Basin No 1 would serve as a "repair basin", No 2 as the "factory basin" and No 3 as the "fitting-out" basin; a newly launched ship could therefore enter via the west lock, have any defects remedied in the first basin, have her steam engines and heavy machinery installed in the second, and then be finished, and loaded with coal and provisions, in the third before leaving via the east locks. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence 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)). [14], The decision required the dockyard to move from its original location, which was too constricted, to a new (adjacent) site to the north.