Our Dry Docks

No 2 Dry Dock, 1856
Scheduled Ancient Monument & Grade II*

Built on the site of the Old Single Dock, where HMS Victory was built, it was lengthened in 1855-56. 400 feet (122m) long, the dock was used between 1861 and 1863 for the construction of HMS Achilles, the first ironclad battleship to be built in a Royal Dockyard.

Today HMS Cavalier, the Royal Navy's last operational Second World War destroyer is open to visitors in the dock.

No 3 Dry Dock 1820
Scheduled Ancient Monument & Grade II*

The first of Chatham's dry docks to be built of stone,  No 3 Dock was constructed to the design of John Rennie in 1820 along with the South Dock Pumping Station.

Today HM Submarine Ocelot, the last warship built for the Royal Navy at Chatham is open to visitors in the dock.

No 4 Dry Dock, c 1840
Scheduled Ancient Monument & Grade II

The northernmost of the three dry docks No 4 dock was rebuilt and enlarged in 1908-10. The Victorian naval sloop, HMS Gannet (1878), restored 2003-04, is open to visitors in this dock.

South Dock Pumping Station, 1822
Scheduled Ancient Monument & Grade II*

Designed by John Rennie at the time No 3 Dock was constructed, the Pumping Station is an early example of the application of steam power to the draining of dry docks. It was used to pump water out of all three docks and back to the river. The original steam beam engine was replaced by an electric pump in 1929. It remains in use today.