Historic Chatham
Chatham's location is in between Rochester and Gillingham and can be accessed via the A2.
Chatham is a diverse town with historic and modern attractions to please everyone. Chatham has evolved around the Dockyards since 1568 when it was established as a Royal Dockyard by Elizabeth 1. Chatham high street is full of shops, cafés and restaurants, it is also home to the Pentagon shopping centre.
Attractions in Chatham
The main attractions in Chatham are The Historic Dockyards, Fort Amherst and Dickens World. The Dockyards are located on the banks of River Medway. The Georgian Dockyards have provided over 500 ships for over 400 years and was once one of the most important naval bases in Britain. Throughout the many years that the Dockyards were in business, at its most important time it was employing over 10,000 people. The Historic Dockyards closed in 1984 and became a tourist attraction.
The Historic Dockyards
At the Historic Dockyards you can explore Britain's last remaining World War II destroyer, and find out how cramped it was for the submariners to live in HMS Ocelot and discover the newly restored Victorian Sloop HMS Gannet. Apart from the historic warships there are many other interesting things to see at the dockyards. The gallery “Wooden Walls” shows what the Royal Dockyards were like in 1758 and how wooden boats were made. The Ropery is a quarter mile long building that uses traditional techniques to make quality rope that rig the worlds most famous ships. Visit the Historic Dockyard website
Dickens World
Dickens World is an exciting information centre which explores the life of the famous writer Charles Dickens and his novels characters. Attractions at Dickens World includes the fun Great Expectations Boat Ride, a Victorian School and prepare to get scared at The Haunted House of 1859. Visit the Dickens World website
Fort Amherst
Napoleonic Display at Fort Amherst Easter Sunday
Fort Amherst is a fort that was used to defend the Dockyards from landward attacks and to protect the road to London. The difference between Fort Amherst and other forts is that the Fort has underground tunnels for an escape if under siege. The restored areas of the fort are the tunnels, Gatehouse, Barrier Ditch and many of the original gun batteries. At Fort Amherst there is Civil Defence Museum with artefacts from World War II and the Cold War period and a memorial garden for 166 City of Rochester anti aircraft battery. Fort Amherst also has many ghost tours throughout the year. Visit Fort Amherst website
What's Going on in Chatham
Although most festivals happen at Chatham's neighbouring city of Rochester there is a festival that is shared between Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham called the Fuse Festival. This festival takes place in the summer and is full of a diverse range of performances such as street dance to magic acts on stilts. There are also many workshops to enjoy.
Historic Chatham by Zoe Weller aged 13