Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust’s first annual conference on Chatham Dockyard and its Defences
Call for Papers: Chatham Historic Dockyard, 24th November 2017.
The first annual Chatham Historic Dockyard Conference aims to bring together new and exciting research into Chatham Dockyard and Its Defences.
The conference aims to celebrate a shared heritage by bringing together the work of research groups across the region. It will provide the opportunity to share, discuss and debate new research. The new conference will provide a forum for new, exciting and interesting research into the local area to be open and accessible for all.
Call for Papers
All researchers, especially local history groups, are invited to submit original published and unpublished papers on the following topics, but not limited to:
- Chatham Historic Dockyard (including its buildings, ships that were built here and what they went on to do, the trades, the people and the wider role the Dockyard played in supporting the Royal Navy)
2.Chatham Lines
Fort Amherst
Kitchener Barracks
Old Gun Wharf
Rochester Castle
Brompton Barracks, Village and the Royal Engineers
The River Medway
Upnor Castle, Barracks and Ordnance Depot
Growth and change of the Medway Towns
The people who worked/lived in the area
New information released/discovered in the last 10 years on Medway related activity.
Authors of selected papers will be invited to deliver a 10-30 minute presentation (dependent on demand) during the afternoon of the 24th November in the Commissioner’s House, Chatham Historic Dockyard.
Please submit an abstract to Alexandra Curson at acurson@chdt.org.uk by the 29th October 2017.
Notification of acceptance: 1 November 2017
Final version (presentation ready): 12 November
Conference: 24 November 2017
Pre-release tickets
You are also invited to be the first to get your tickets. Please visit https://dockyardconference.eventbrite.co.uk to do so. A limited number are available.
Stand
If you/the organisation you are part of would like a stand at the event to display research, please contact acurson@chdt.org.uk for more details.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham and its Defences
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is the world’s most complete Dockyard of the Age of Sail – a time when the Royal Navy dominated the oceans, establishing Great Britain as a global power.
Chatham’s 400-year story is one of constant innovation. In the mid-17th century, it was the Royal Navy's main fleet base, and heightened fear of invasion (following the 1667 Dutch Raid) led to significant investment in fortified land defences. Fort Amherst and the Chatham Lines - a major network of ditches, tunnels, underground stores, barracks, and gun emplacements - were begun in 1756.
From the mid18th century, fleet anchorage moved westwards down the English Channel, and Chatham took on new significance as a centre for shipbuilding and repair. This led to a vast array of new dockyard facilities, and a resultant increase in facilities for the rapidly-increasing military and civilian workforces (at Brompton Barracks and Brompton Village), as well as the refortification of the Chatham Lines.
Chatham Dockyard and Its Defences played a crucial role in supporting the Royal Navy in the defence of Britain and the development of the Empire and Commonwealth. Their contribution to British naval history is crucial and unique. However, a lot is left unknown and every year more information is being interpreted, discovered or released.
