The excellent Spitalfields Life takes a trip to Chatham Dockyard, and meets and ancient mariner… See also the Gentle Author’s outings to Sheerness and the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich.
My thanks to Malcolm Woods for spotting this one.
Tag: Chatham Dockyard
Pilot Cutters and the Victory: books from Seaforth Publishing
I must read this book by seasoned sailor and writer Tom Cunliffe some time. Here’s what the Seaforth Publishing’s blurb says…
‘The pilot cutters that operated around the coasts of northern Europe until the First World War were among the most seaworthy and beautiful craft of their size ever built, while the small number that have survived have inspired yacht designers, sailors and traditional craft enthusiasts over the last hundred years.
‘They possessed a charisma unlike any other working craft; their speed and close-windedness, their strength and seaworthiness, fused together into a hull and rig of particular elegance, all to guide the mariner through the rough and tortuous waters of the European seaboard, bought them an enviable reputation.
‘This new book is both a tribute to and a minutely researched history of these remarkable vessels. The author, perhaps the most experienced sailor of the type, describes the ships themselves, their masters and crews,and the skills they needed for the competitive and dangerous work of pilotage. He explains the differences between the craft of disparate coasts – of the Scilly Islesand the Bristol Channel, of northern France, and the wild coastline of Norway – and weaves into the history of their development the stories of the men who sailed them.’
I notice that whoever wrote it has managed to capture the characteristic Cunliffe persuasive and salty style.
PS – A more recent release from Seaforth is Brian Lavery’s book Nelson’s Victory: 250 Years of War and Peace, which is published this month to coincide with the 250th anniversary of her launch.
Brian is also guest curator of an exhibition at the Chatham Historic Dockyard, if you have time to get over there.
The publisher’s notes promise the book is the most comprehensive book yet published on the topic and includes new and surprising revelations, including that:
- she was almost wrecked on her launch
- diplomacy conducted onboard her played a crucial role in provoking Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1912
- 1914 Kaiser Wilhelm set the First World War in motion sitting at a desk made from her timbers
The book also tells the story of Horatio Nelson, who was born a few weeks before his most famous ship was ordered.
The Medway by paddlesteamer
VIC 56, just outside Chatham Dockyard. Click on the images in this post (and most others!) for much larger photos
The weather forecast predicted strong winds and thunderstorms – so I decided against going sailing. But what to do instead? Julie and I decided to take a river trip down the Medway on the wonderful paddlesteamer Kingswear Castle, starting from Rochester Pier, just by the city’s impressive Norman castle, and these are a selection of photos from the outing.
I hope you’re seated comfortable, for there are lots of shots here – and quite a few questions. If you know the answers, please fill me in using either the Comment button below, or by emailing me at gmatkin@gmail.com.
TID 164, VIC 56, redundant lightships on the Medway
The river had a lot to show us that was intriguing, to say the least. What’s the story, we wondered, behind this neat little schooner? Or the pretty and comfortable-looking motorsailer?
There was this beautiful old cutter – is she a conversion? And this pretty little clinker built pocket cruiser. And what about this elegant cruiser apparently on the brink of going somewhere?
Two photos of the same old-fashioned yacht, and a smack yacht moored near Upnor Castle
This old fashioned chine-hulled dayboat, very like one I’ve seen many times moored at Queenborough – I wonder whether they were made by a local builder? I’m sure generations of visitors have been intrigued by this sinking building in the grounds of Chatham Dockyard
Old smacks stand ready for a race; Harvest Queen looks like a converted wooden motor fishing vessel
There was this pocket cruiser – I haven’t figured out to which design she was built, but will be looking her up – and this smart Dutch tjalk, and the small Thames barge Whippet
Hope of Porthleven, and cormorants guarding their buoys
Steam tug John H Amos – I gather there’s hope she will be restored; a mystery yacht I’d like to know more about; one of the forts known as Palmerston’s follies
A Squib returns from Sunday racing; a motor fishing vessel that looks a lot like Jay Cresswell’s model of a ring-netter
Another very well looked-after MFV conversion, Thames barge Edith May is also looking great following her restoration
The Medway’s Cold War-era Russian sub, however, is very down-at-heel
You can’t moor here; and here’s why
Finally, what’s this craft? I’ve never heard of the Bella-something of Dover, and the Internet seems to be unaware of her also. What is her future to be, I wonder?
The Medway Pilots webpage has a useful history of the River Medway.