Photo Gallery
A selection of photographs showing Chatham's tremendous variety of naval and military heritage. Why not share your own photos in our Guestbook?
For descriptions of photographs above and to the right of the screen, click here.
The exterior of No.7 Covered Slip, the Historic Dockyard, designed and built by the Royal Engineers (1855). An outstanding early example of a free-standing iron-framed structure.
The interior of No.4 Covered Slip, the Historic Dockyard (1847). Slips 4, 5 and 6 are identical, with slender cast iron frames and corrugated iron roof sheeting. These roofs are important landmarks in the history of iron and steel structures, and pre-date the great Victorian train shed roofs of Paddington and King's Cross.
The Admiral’s Offices (1809) are a rare surviving example of administrative offices from the Age of Sail.
The Saw Mill was built to a design by Marc Brunel (1814). It is very early example of the application of steam power to sawing and woodworking. It could take up to 2,000 oak trees to make a first rate ship of the line.
Inside the Dockyard's Church (1810), built largely by the dockyard's own labour force.
The Clocktower Building (1723), the oldest naval storehouse to survive in any of the Royal Dockyards.
Commissioner's House (1704), the oldest surviving naval building anywhere in the UK.
HMS Cavalier in No. 2 Dry Dock. No. 2 Dry Dock was first built in 1623. HMS Victory was built here in 1765.
HMS Ocelot in No. 3 Dry Dock, the first of Chatham's dry docks to be built of stone.
No 3. Covered Slip (1838) represents the climax of the design of free-standing wide-span timber structures, and was at the time the largest timber-framed structure in Europe.
Inside the Tarred Yarn Store (1786), part of the Dockyard's Ropery complex.
The Crimean War Memorial and Institute Building, inside the Royal School of Military Engineering (Brompton Barracks).
Inside the Sail and Colour Loft (1723) - the only surviving Sail Loft in any of the Royal Dockyards, and almost certainly the place where the sails for HMS Victory were made. Most of the pillars and floors are made of reused ships' timbers, probably from the 1600s.
The five Covered Slips were built between 1838 and 1855 and demonstrate a rapid evolution in the use of building materials, from timber to cast iron, to wrought iron in just 17 years.
75 bays of Timber Seasoning Shed at Chatham (1775) provided a three year wood supply for the dockyard. Only two ranges of shed survive in any of the Royal Dockyards - both at Chatham.
Spiral staircase at Upnor Castle (1559).
Brompton Village developed rapidly throughout the 18th century to house the fast-growing civilian naval workforce.
Endeavour in front of Upnor Castle (1559). By 1691 no other location contained more gunpowder than Upnor Castle - not even the Tower of London.
