Humanities / Themed Days

The impact of the Industrial Revolution is magnificently charted in the architecture of the Historic Dockyard.  Step back in time in our magnificent Ropery building and sample what life may have been like for workers in the early industrial period.  Explore the impact of the Factory Acts on Victorian working conditions and question a costumed character about their experiences.  A session on board the 19th century sloop HMS Gannet provides a glimpse into naval life of the Victorian period, covering ship construction, charting and the ship's anti-slavery history.

This exciting whole day programme - split between the Historic Dockyard Chatham and neighbouring Royal Engineers Museum - offers a fascinating insight into the Second World War.  Visit HMS Cavalier, Britain's last surviving Second World War destroyer, and the amazing spy submarine HMS Ocelot.  Learn about the realities of life on board for the men serving on these warships and take a trip down into one of the site's underground shelters to see how Dockyard workers protected themselves from air attack.  At the Royal Engineers Museum, object handling, historical enquiry and presentation skills come to the fore.  Pupils take a closer look at some of the artefacts used by soldier engineers during the War and have the opportunity to explore Kent's largest military museum.