Kent - Chatham Historic Dockyard

HMS Victory model at the reception of the dockyard.

 

No 3 Covered Slip, 1838
The largest timber slip cover built for the Royal Navy, at the time of its construction it was one of the world's largest  timber span structures. The curved apsidal end to the slip matched the shape of a ship's bow. In 1901 an internal steel mezzanine was added when the slip was adapted for use as a boat store. We were very impressed with this building.

 

Photo of a photo showing the covered slip.

 

HMS Gannet is a sloop of the Victorian Royal Navy.
She was built at Sheerness in 1878 and patrolled the world's oceans flying the flag and protecting British interests and trade. She was powered by both sail and steam.

HMS Gannet’s  figurehead

HM Submarine Ocelot was laid down at Chatham Dockyard in Nov. 1960. She was launched two years later in May 1962. Significantly Ocelot was the last submarine to be built in Chatham Dockyard for the Royal Navy.  Ocelot was paid off in August 1991 and returned to Chatham Historic Dockyard in 1992.

HMS Cavalier is a retired C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by J. Samuel White and Company at East Cowes on 28 March 1943, launched on 7 April 1944, and commissioned on 22 November 1944

 

Sue trying out two new ways of transport.
’Call the Midwife’ was partly filmed at the dockyard hence the ‘cut-out’ for your own photo.

       

 The Ropery, 1786-91
Rope has been made on this site since 1618. Today Chatham is the only one of the original four naval ropeyards still in operation and with much of its original machinery and all its buildings complete.

Aerial photo of the ropery

The ropery sizes

    

There is a 40 minute guided tour of the ropery with a rope making demonstration. It was very informative and entertaining.

 

Looking down the ropery

The finished product

 

Stuart trying out the Captain’s chair for size

View down the River Medway from the dockyard

 

Shipbuilding on the Clyde  - painting by Stanley Spencer in the art gallery

HM Turret Ship ‘Devastation’ – detail from the painting in the art gallery.

Left hand down a bit!

Another ropey photo

 

To be continued ………

Kent – Isle of Sheppey

 Here we are set up on the Isle of Sheppey (IOS). Why the IOS I hear you cry – well we wanted to be close to Chatham Historic Dockyard so we could make a couple of visits there. We stayed at Leobay Caravan site, 5 caravans only, it had very good reviews despite its position. As you can see from the photos it is a very tranquil oasis. Across the River Swale is a very industrial landscape.

   

   

   Across from the caravan site -  the River Swale at dusk.

      

Queenborough harbour about a mile from the caravan site.

Underneath the arches of the Sheppey crossing.

 

All around the IOS is vehicle storage (look on Google Earth). If you own a VW, Citroën, Peugeot or Suzuki it has probably been imported through here.

 

Sheerness  is home to the largest freestanding cast iron clock tower in Kent. It is 36 feet tall and was built in 1902 at a cost of around £360.

Sheerness promenade

 

Minster Promenade – Stuart at a new beach hut.

Sue taking even more exercise

 

Carol and David joined us on site with their caravan for a couple days.

     

Maggie joined us for a day

An ‘amaizing’ geocache

 

        The Handbag Gang  -  A walk along Queenborough promenade

One morning at 0730 we could hear lots of sirens coming from the Sheppey Crossing. At about 0900 we found out that there was a massive pile up on the crossing. Here are the headlines from the local press. About 130 vehicles were involved, but no one was killed thank goodness.

Here are two photos from the Times Guardian

To be continued ………

Bournemouth Air Festival - August 2013

The Bournemouth Air Festival had been in the diary since we bought the diary. Shortly before the festival our friends Pat and Sally invited us for a brunch at their apartment close to Bournemouth. What a way to start the day with a cooked breakfast and coffee. Thank you! We wandered to the bus stop and went in style (sort of) to Bournemouth front where we walked and took up a position on the centre line for the festival.
Most of the photos speak for themselves.

    

RAF Typhoon

RAF Typhoon

Jet Provost

    

Pat, Sally and Sue

Lynx Helicopter – defying gravity

 

Patrouille Rev

Quote from Bournemouthair website:
‘Injecting a certain je ne sais quoi to the Bournemouth line-up this year is French display team the Patrouille Reva. Comprising three Acroez aircraft, the display features crossovers, barrel roles, triangle loop and a great heart formation.’

  

Swordfish: The aircraft entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1936, and, despite its design being rather outdated by the start of the Second World War, achieved some spectacular successes, such as the crippling of the Bismarck in May 1941.

  

The Merlin: Its primary role is in anti-submarine warfare but its size and speed make it equally suited for search and rescue operations and casualty evacuation.

Red Arrows

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

   

 

Ooops!

  

RAF Chinook

  

Sally B is the last remaining airworthy B-17 Flying fortress.

  

The Isle of Wight – spot the polar bear shape.
Thanks to Sally for that information.

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Oldie Photos  1987

Pat, Sally and Children

  

Sue in Holland