Freedom 1807 - The Chatham Dockyard Story

The Historic Dockyard commemorates the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act of 1807 with an award winning exhibition

The exhibition takes a different look at the history of Chatham, both in the context of Slavery - the relationship between John Hawkins the "founder" of the dockyard and John Hawkins as the leader of the first English expedition to transport West African slaves to the Americas - and the Royal Navy's role in protecting British interests including the Caribbean plantations where many of the slaves were forced to work.

The exhibition also covers the work of Chatham built ships in stopping the slave trade and looks at the "hidden history" of people from ethnic minorities who served with the Royal Navy or worked in the dockyard.  It opened on Sunday 25th March (the actual date that the Bill was passed 200 years' ago) it is included in the normal admission price to The Historic Dockyard. 

You can also see The Royal Dockyard Church| which was transformed into a film set resembling the House of Commons circ. 1807 for the newly released film "Amazing Grace" which tells the story of the abolition of slavery and William Wilberforce's part in it.  The church has now been returned to its original state, but is open to visitors during normal Historic Dockyard opening times.

HMS Gannet (1878), preserved alongside our two other historic warships, is the only surviving British warship to have taken part in the suppression of the slave trade off Africa during the 19th century.  Between 1885 and 1888 she undertook anti slavery patrols in the Red Sea intercepting Arab slave traders operating off the East Coast of Africa - around the gulf and Indian Ocean.

Through an audio tour available on the ship or downloadable before you visit (click here)| you are welcomed on board by one of the ship's crew and taken on a re-created journey, based on fact, when HMS Gannet saw action against slavers in the Red Sea in 1887.  After one of the officers was fatally wounded in a skirmish with slave traders HMS Gannet was sent to capture those involved.  Also through your audio journey, you can "meet" various characters who were members of Gannet's crew, explore the ship and discover what life was really like on board a ship of the Victorian Navy.  Click here to read more about HMS Gannet.|