Description
One of the main naval shipyards of the British Royal Navy, located on the River Medway in Kent, with a long history of shipbuilding.
Year of Foundation or Oldest Source
The Royal Dockyard was established in the mid-16th century, during the reign of Henry VIII or Edward VI.
Country (State or Region)
United Kingdom (England)
Location
Chatham, Kent, England, on the banks of the River Medway.
Structuring
Vast complex of naval shipyards (Chatham Dockyard) covering a large area, with multiple dry docks, building slips, workshops (sawmill, foundry, ropewalk), warehouses, and defensive fortifications (e.g., Upnor Castle).
Notes
It was one of England's most important shipyards for over 400 years, building hundreds of ships for the Royal Navy. Center of innovation in naval design and technology. Played a crucial role in maintaining British naval power.
Sources
MARNOT, Bruno. Ports as Tools of European Expansion. Encyclopédie d'histoire numérique de l'Europe [online], 2020.
