I returned to Chatham's Historic Dockyard today for a day out with Kevin. The last time I visited [photoblog.com] this fascinating place my most successful photographs were of No.3 Slip, an enormous structure designed for ship building. Today I found inspiration elsewhere too and my photos cover a lot of the dockyard's long history, from the old naval ships to the quarter-mile long Ropery.
Our first port of call was the Ropery. This quarter-mile long building was completed in 1791 and is the longest brick built structure in Europe.
Rope is still made in this building and the machinery in use dates back to 1811!
The wheel where the newly made rope is wound into large coils.
Men and women worked in the ropery but had separate entrances to stop them fraternising. There was something about this scene, as Kevin photographed the sign, that caught my eye - I think the shadow adds the perfect touch!
An old crane beside No.3 Slip
HMS Gannet, a Victorian sloop from 1878.
Natural and manmade light on HMS Gannet
HMS Ocelot, a submarine from 1962. We were able to walk right underneath it in the dry dock before taking a tour inside. Both of us came to the conclusion that we're not made to be submariners!
Inside No.3 Slip, admiring the magnificent roof
I couldn't resist at least one gratuitous peeling paint shot!
Fascinating scroll down - I learn so much from you.