Chatham in Medway, England, United Kingdom
No. 1 Machine Shop 1861; Armour Plate Shop 1865
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 5, 2018
1. No. 1 Machine Shop 1861; Armour Plate Shop 1865 Marker
No. 1 Machine Shop 1861; Armour Plate Shop 1865
Grade II* Listed Buildings
The decision to build HMS Achilles at the Dockyard in 1861 led to the requirement for new buildings to be able to house the machine tools required to work with iron. Achilles was to be built in No.2 Dock and it was decided that the new building, No.1 Machine Shop, should be built adjacent to it, allowing an easier transfer of the shaped iron for construction.
The building had enough room to take two new plate furnaces and two angle-iron furnaces. In addition, hydraulic machinery for bending iron plate, punching holes, shearing and planing the metal work were installed. In 1865 the building was extended with the Armour Plate Shop, now the Trust's Railway Workshop and Wagon Stop Canteen. In a stark contrast to the hand tools used for wooden warship construction, they would have been noisy working spaces.
Despite their appearance, both are important structures that mark the transition from the timber-hulled sail-powered ships of the age of sail to the arrival of the iron and steel hulled steam powered Navy.
Topics. This historical
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 5, 2018
2. No. 1 Machine Shop 1861; Armour Plate Shop 1865 Marker
this page online
Location. 51° 23.673′ N, 0° 31.626′ E. Marker is in Chatham, England, in Medway. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Western Avenue and Main Gate Road, on the left when traveling north. Located in Historic Dockyard Chatham. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chatham, England ME4 4TZ, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Clocktower Building (a few steps from this marker); No. 2 Dry Dock, 1856 (a few steps from this marker); The Victory Dock (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Single Dock (within shouting distance of this marker); H.M.S. Victory (within shouting distance of this marker); HMS Cavalier, 1944 (within shouting distance of this marker); First World War 100th Anniversary (within shouting distance of this marker); The Destroyer Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chatham.
Also see . . .
1. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. (Submitted on June 8, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Chatham Dockyard Historical Society. (Submitted on June 8, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 5, 2018
3. No. 1 Machine Shop and Armour Plate Shop
3. Chatham Dockyard on Wikipedia. (Submitted on June 8, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 8, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
