The dockyard at Portsmouth was founded by Henry VII, developing into a naval base that was essentially the nation’s most important military establishment. Here, in times of war, huge fleets were assembled and the harbour that lay alongside the dockyard witnessed the constant arrival and departure of ships engaged in convoy duties, blockading and attacking enemy ports or intercepting hostile seagoing fleets. In turn, it was a potential target for an enemy, for if the dockyard could be destr...

Chatham is a town that has been undergoing change for the last five hundred years. It all began with the arrival of the naval dockyard in the sixteenth century. From this, a town was created which began to grow with the rapidity of a Chatham built warship. The site of the former dockyard is still under development and in the town major changes are not only underway but others are in the pipeline and will include the Brook, the waterfront and the area of the railway station. What better tim...

This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest counties. It provides a nostalgic look at Hampshire’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites. The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover su...

This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest cities. It provides a nostalgic look at Portsmouth’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites. The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover sub...

The Thames Estuary is the gateway into London that had to be defended against seaborne invasion. Through proximity to the Continent, these waters were a likely passageway for those intent upon seaborne raids or invasion, necessitating the need for a powerful naval force to be on hand when threatened. The first fortifications date back to Roman times. To support the British navy in these waters, four of the nation’s royal dockyards – Chatham, Deptford, Sheerness and Woolwich – were clustere...

This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest cities. It provides a nostalgic look at Canterbury’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites. The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover sub...

Portsmouth is best known for its longterm association with the Royal Navy. Its naval dockyard was at one time the world’s largest employer of a civilian workforce. While there can be no dispute that the navy, for many centuries, totally dominated the town, it was not, by any means, the only employer. Others were active in the various service industries that met the needs of those employed in the dockyard or the navy: a largescale tailoring industry that initially began in the production of...

At a time when the Royal Navy was the biggest and best in the world, Georgian London was the hub of this immense industrial-military complex, underpinning and securing a global trading empire that was entirely dependent on the navy for its existence.Philip MacDougall explores the bureaucratic web that operated within the wider city area before giving attention to London's association with the practical aspects of supplying and manning the operational fleet and ship...

The history of the Medway Towns is synonymous with the large-scale military industrial complex that was centred on the dockyard, military barracks and various fortifications. This has, over many years, provided employment for the people of Chatham and Gillingham as well as Rainham, Rochester and Strood, along with the service industries that were part of the military-industrial complex. But the Medway Towns also had an abundance of cement and brickworks, barge makers, breweries, engineerin...

Chichester is a city with an unbroken history that stretches back to Roman times or earlier. Its main city streets follow the original pattern laid out almost two thousand years ago while the buildings that line many of those streets, when not medieval in origin, most frequently date to Georgian or Victorian times. The changing use of these structures and the activities of their occupiers is the theme that runs through this book. In making direct comparisons between past and present it has...

The cathedral city of Chichester in West Sussex has a rich and colourful history that stretches all the way back to Roman times, when it played an important part in the Roman invasion. Its main city streets follow the original pattern laid out almost 2,000 years ago, while the buildings that line many of those streets, when not medieval in origin, most frequently date to Georgian or Victorian times. Well-known local author and historian Philip MacDougall takes the reader on a fascinating A...

Chatham is primarily known for its long-term association with the Royal Navy; its naval dockyard at one time was one of the world’s largest employers of a civilian workforce. Yet there is much more to Chatham than being home to the Royal Navy. This book presents the history of the town of Chatham, including those who lived alongside the dockyard and those who supported the artisans and labourers employed in the yard. Chatham’s military connections also significantly influenced the way the ...