Chatham Historic Dockyard
Arundel Castle Bodiam Castle Brighton Sussex Canterbury (feature) Chartwell Chatham Historic Dockyard Crystal Palace Dover Castle Down House Hever Castle Ightham Mote Leeds Castle Leonardslee Gardens Saint Hill Manor Scotney Castle Sheffield Park Gardens Sissinghurst Castle Garden Weald & Downland Museum Wisley Gardens	The thumbnails below are linked to larger pictures The Historic Dockyard at Chatham lies on the banks of the River Medway and was home to the Royal Navy, founded by Henry VIII, for over 300 years. Chatham was the birthplace of many of Britain's finest sailing ships that helped build the British Empire, including Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar HMS Victory. The dockyard covers about 80 acres and was in use as a Royal Dockyard from 1613 to 1984, and today forms the most complete dockyard for the Age of Sail surviving in the World. The Dockyard exhibitions and conducted tours of which there are many, obviously concentrate on our past glories when we were major sea power, but these do extend to the recent past of World War II. The main exhibits are summarised below and by the accompanying photographs. The Wooden Walls exhibition follows William Crockwell in 1758 on his first day as a dockyard apprentice. The Historic Warships include a destroyer, a submarine and a Victorian sailing sloop, all of which can be toured by visitors. The Ropery a unique 1/4 mile long building where craftsmen display traditional rope making techniques. Museum of the Royal Dockyard Covering some 23,000 sq feet, it tells the fascinating history of the Royal Dockyard. The Lifeboat Gallery housing the National collection of lifeboats. Many smaller exhibits and historic buildings, too numerous to list individually in this summary. Chatham's Historic Dockyard should provide an entertaining day out for all the family. *Link to official site for viewing Visitor Information*