Archive 2007
December 2007
A new world-class museum will join other leading attractions at The Historic Dockyard in 2010. National Museums at Chatham is being created in partnership with Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, the Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum. The new centre will house and display around 4,000 maritime models from the collections of the national museum partners. The museum will be located in No.1 Smithery, a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II* listed building. The preservation of No.1 Smithery completes the physical regeneration of The Historic Dockyard. The new attraction will include a touring exhibition gallery for national and international exhibitions. The project has funding and support from English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, SEEDA, Medway Council and Communities and Local Government. It will be a tremendous asset for the World Heritage Site.
November 2007
The National Destroyer Memorial was unveiled on 14th November by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
The specially commissioned bronze monument stands alongside HMS Cavalier at The Historic Dockyard, and is dedicated to the 142 Royal Navy destroyers sunk during the Second World War and the 11,000 men who lost their lives as a result.
The monument is a unique piece of artwork, created by the British sculptor Kenneth Potts. It is 3.8m (12’ 6”) long and 3m (10’ 6”) high . It rests on a granite plinth of recycled dock stone.
The Roll of Honour occupies a prominent position, listing by name the 142 Royal Navy destroyers lost during the war. It also records the sacrifice of the other British, Dominion and Allied destroyers that were lost between 1939 and 1945.
November 2007
The Chatham World Heritage Partnership welcomes a new Chair!
Lindsey Morgan takes up the role with immediate effect. Lindsey works at MidKent College, and lectures part time at the University of Kent. She has a background in tourism, conservation, education and marketing, and completed a Master's dissertation on the World Heritage potential of Chatham Dockyard and its Defences.
Lindsey will chair her first meeting in the New Year, when the Partnership will be invited to discuss the future preservation and promotion of Chatham's World Heritage. More details will be posted here, and sent to World Heritage Partners soon.
November 2007
The Fortress Study Group is an international society concerned with the study of military architecture and fortifications. In September 2007, they held their Annual Conference at the University of Greenwich's Medway campus. The conference organiser, Alan Fyson has written to say "Having held their 2007 Annual Conference on the site, the Fortress Study Group strongly supports the Chatham bid for World Heritage Status. To have dockyard, barracks and fortifications all in such close proximity to each other and in such a state of preservation is unparalleled"
August 2007
The Chatham World Heritage Partnership is seeking a new Chair, following Barry Shaw's departure to pastures new in Essex. The position is open to any member of the Partnership, and represents an exciting opportunity to become involved in shaping Chatham's future. For more information, please click on the link below. The deadline for applications is 12th September.
July 2007
The Hei People appeared overnight at Fort Amherst on 23rd May. The 130 fully-clothed figures, made from wood, straw and dirt, were made by the internationally acclaimed Finnish artist Reijo Kela.
Local artists and art students joined Reijo to install the artwork. Children from schools across north Kent took part in art lessons, making face masks and miniature scarecrows. Clothes were donated by local residents and Oxfam.
Cruelly, on 4th July, the figures were vandalised, and some thrown in the river. Last week, three people were arrested for the attacks. Project Manager Paivi Seppala said: “Everyone was appalled by the vandals’ behaviour. The North Kent Local Authority Arts Partnership had worked tirelessly to bring this exciting project to Medway, and it had brought joy to so many residents and schoolchildren.
“I have been bowled over by the tremendous amount of public support since the attacks, and my thanks go to everyone who supported the Hei People during their stay in Medway. The public outcry has proved there is huge demand for thought provoking art in Medway and we’re not going to let this minor glitch set us back.”
Photos courtesy of www.spaghettiweston.com
July 2007
The Mayor of Medway Cllr Val Goulden opened the newly restored guardhouse at Fort Amherst on Saturday, and helped fire a cannon to annouce a weekend packed with activity at the Fort. Hundreds of visitors took a break from the sun to tour the underground tunnels, and view drills, skirmishes and cannon fire.
June 2007
The next three years of World Heritage activity for Chatham were set out at at the launch of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership on 14th June. Over 150 guests came to Commissioner’s House – the oldest surviving intact naval building in the world - to hear from:
·Cllr Rodney Chambers, Leader of Medway Council.
·Judith Armitt, Chief Executive, Thames Gateway, Communities and Local Government (CLG)
·Joanne Cable, World Heritage Site and Great Lines City Park project manager
·Bob Dimond, Medway 2012 Manager
·Peter Kendall, Team-Leader South East, English Heritage
·Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of the Greenwich Foundation.
Cllr Chambers explained what World Heritage Status would mean for Medway: “World Heritage Site status will be as much about the remarkable people who helped shape Medway, as it is about the physical fabric”
Judith Armitt lent the full support of CLG to Chatham’s World Heritage application, and Great Lines City Park project, and noted her delight at Medway’s sensitive programme of revitalising heritage buildings. She mentioned in particular the transformation of the Drill Hall into a modern, vibrant university library.
Speaking after the event, project manager Joanne Cable said “My thanks go to everyone who came along tonight – to the speakers who offered us their support and experience, and to the residents and organisations who demonstrated their tremendous interest in Chatham’s heritage”.
The event was sponsored by Hamptons International, who are the selling agents for the quays at Chatham Maritime. Trevor Nicholson, Director, noted “we firmly believe that Chatham Maritime is central to the most significant regeneration zone in Europe”.
All those who attended the launch will automatically be invited to future Chatham World Heritage Partnership events. The World Heritage Partnership is an open forum for anyone with an interest in Chatham’s World Heritage, and who would like to contribute to preserving and enhancing this legacy for the future. New members will always be welcome. To join, please click on Further Information, on the right of the homepage.
June 2007
UK TV History are running an exciting competition to find the UK’s most loved heritage sites. Called ‘Britain’s Best’, they are asking the nation to help them create a comprehensive guide to the best-loved historical locations in Britain.
Chatham Dockyard has received over 4,000 votes, and is currently listed as the 8th most popular heritage site in the south of England. Click on the link below to explore the competition, and to add your support for Chatham’s heritage.
http://uktv.co.uk/index.cfm/uktv/britainsbest.siteDetail/id/388
June 2007.
Chatham’s World Heritage aspirations will be featured on a live report from BBC South East this evening. Reporter Simon Jones will interview Cllr Rodney Chambers, and Richard Holdsworth (Museums and Heritage Director at Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust)
May 2007.
The Chatham World Heritage Partnership will be launched at Commissioner’s House, at the heart of the Historic Dockyard, on 14th June 2007, from 5pm – 7.45pm. This open evening will present plans for the next three years, and set out opportunities for involvement. Speakers include Cllr Rodney Chambers (Leader of Medway Council and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration) and Judith Armitt (Chief Executive of the Thames Gateway). Everyone is welcome, although registrations are required, through Janet Odom: janet.odom@medway.gov.uk, or 01634 331582. Light refreshments will be provided, and there is ample parking.
April 2007.
We are pleased to announce that Barry Shaw – Chief Executive of the Kent Architecture Centre, and South East Representative for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) – has accepted the role of Chair of the Chatham World Heritage Partnership. The Partnership will meet two-three times yearly, to guide and help implement the World Heritage Site Management Plan for Chatham Dockyard and its Defences.
February 2007:
The last government shortlist for World Heritage Sites was created in 1999. Since this date, many of these sites have been added to the World Heritage List, or have been given an application date (nominations for 2007 – 2010 have already been decided). It is now time to review the shortlist. Government will examine the list throughout 2007 and 2008, and no new nominations can be announced before this review is complete. Chatham must work with government ministers to decide when their application can be progressed. The nomination dossier will be ready from late 2009
January 2007:
A full time Project Manager has been appointed to steer Chatham’s World Heritage Site application, and to progress the Great Lines City Park Project. Joanne Cable will begin work in February 2007. She has extensive experience of bidding for external funds, and co-ordinating partnership projects. She has recently led an international military heritage research project, which included the dockyard World Heritage Sites of Venice (Italy) and Karlskrona (Sweden).
