Dry Docks & Building Slips

The dry docks and ship building slips formed the industrial heart of the dockyard of the Age of Sail.

Originally shallow timber lined trenches Chatham's dry docks were rebuilt in stone during the middle of the 19th century and today house the Historic Dockyard's collection of Historic Warships.

The slipways with their highly important and significant range of covers that chart the transition from wood to metal dominate the dockyard skyline. For further information follow the links on the right hand side.