Chatham Historic Dockyard: World Power to Resurgence

by Sir Neil Cossons (Editor)

Overview

Nowhere in the world is it possible to see such an intact naval dockyard for the building and maintenance of the ships of the sailing navy as at Chatham. This book, edited by Neil Cossons, Jonathan Coad, Andrew Lambert, Paul Hudson and Paul Jardine - all experts in their fields - brings together their combined knowledge to tell the dockyard's history, from Elizabethan origins to fleet base and shipbuilding yard, from sail to steel to submarines. They set out the extraordinary scale of the legacy and the challenges of the future once the yard closed in the 1980s.

This is a story of the creation of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the management of an outstanding historic asset for the benefit of the public. Profusely illustrated, it is the first authoritative account of how Chatham's dockyard was saved for the nation and managed for nearly forty years to exemplary standards.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781800859494
Publisher:	Historic England in association with Liverpool University Press
Publication date:	07/15/2021
Series:	Historic England
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 6.60(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Sir Neil Cossons OBE FSA FMA is a British historian, whose career includes being Director of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Director of the Science Museum in London, pro-provost and chairman of council of the Royal College of Art, and Chairman of English Heritage.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

Foreword His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Patron of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust vii

Preface Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE DL Chairman of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust viii

1 The Chatham endeavour Neil Cossons 1

2 'The chief arsenal of the Royal Navy and of Great Britain' Chatham, the Royal Navy and a wider world Andrew Lambert 15

3 'The most complete dockyard of the Age of Sail' Jonathan Coad 33

4 The challenge of the future Paul Hudson 55

5 Preservation through reuse Paul Jardine 85

6 Policy into practice Richard Holdsworth 105

Contributors 129

Index 131

Editorial Reviews

"By 1984, the navy no longer needed Chatham dockyard. This book describes its place in history and how one of the largest and most complex conservation projects has transformed the site into a successful re-born place where people visit, work, live and relax. The story is told by people closely involved throughout the project as a fascinating account of regeneration from which future projects have much to learn."
Peter Kendall, former Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Historic England

"This seminal, splendidly illustrated, and affordable book packs a punch... [It] presents a finely honed essence of lessons learned at Chatham in creating an authentic, unique and sustainable conservation and business model for a complex industrial site... It is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in naval dockyards."
Dr Ann Coats, Naval Dockyards Society

"The collection of essays brought together in this publication by Neil Cossons provides a well-illustrated account of the history of [Chatham Dockyard]."
Paul Smith, TICCIH Bulletin

"This book is a fitting tribute to... the modern as well as the historic establishment, and to the spirit of industry, endeavour and achievement which still pervades this dockyard."
Roger Morriss, International Journal of Maritime History

"Each chapter is written by one intimately familiar with the subject at hand. Prominent historians, like Andrew Lambert and Jonathan Coad, discuss the history of the dockyard and its place in the wider history... Unique insights by those directly involved in the process allow readers a detailed view into the financing, thought processes, and images that tell the clearest story possible... this work is definitely worth the read and provides a great deal of knowledge to any heritage manager or enthusiast."
Ivor Mollema, Northern Mariner

From the Publisher