Discover Our Collections
Explore the work of the Dockyard and the people who not only built ships at Chatham but served on them for 400 years.
collections
a small window into our past
We care for over 70,000 objects in our collection – ranging from archaeology, rigging, hand tools, machinery to fine art and photography.
We collect and preserve objects related to the Dockyard’s past and also carry out specific research into the Dockyard’s rich and varied history. From projects focused on Dockyard workers to the tragedies suffered during the First World War, we are building up a picture of the role and impact the Dockyard has had over four hundred years.
We are committed to helping the public who have enquiries about our collections. These may be answered face-to-face in the case of the Reading Room collections or by telephone, letter, or email for our archive and object holdings.
Explore our Collections Online
Our Collections Team has recently begun the process of digitising our collection and we are gradually adding new objects to our digital resources.
Digital & Temporary Exhibitions
Take a virtual stroll through our collection of online exhibitions and explore our regularly changing temporary exhibitions.
Accessing our Collections
For over 400 years Chatham Dockyard and its people supported the Royal Navy by building, repairing and maintaining its warships. One of Britain’s most important Royal Dockyards, it was associated with many great historical figures of their time – great seamen like Sir Francis Drake and Lord Nelson as well as literary legends such as Samuel Pepys and Charles Dickens.
There are many ways you can access our historic collections and learn more about the role of Chatham Dockyard.
Historic Warships
Our four historic warships mark key points in the development of warship building over two centuries.
The surviving timbers of NAMUR (1756), GANNET (1878), CAVALIER (1944) and OCELOT (1962).
Galleries
Four centuries of shipbuilding, shipfitting and naval warfare have generated a vast array of artefacts, many of which can be seen in open display across our galleries.
Naval & Dockyard Personnel Records
We hold very few records for either Naval or Dockyard Personnel. When the Royal Dockyard Chatham closed in 1984 the Ministry of Defence removed all records still held on site. Those that we have in our collections are ones that have been donated to us, usually by families of former dockyard workers or Chatham Ratings.
More recent records are available from the Ministry of Defence via their website.
Some older yard pay books and muster books are archived at The National Archives at Kew. Their website gives further information about the type of records they hold and how to search them.
Donations
The Trust is currently moving the Collection to a new storage facility, during the relocation period, we have paused the acquisition of any new objects into the collection to give our staff the opportunity to carry out the large task of safely transferring our collection to its new home.
We will be continuing to keep this under review so please check this page for any updates in the future. We value your support and look forward to accepting object donations in the future. If your offer is time sensitive, please consider contacting other museums for possible donations.
As a fully accredited museum we collect, preserve, study and exhibit objects and material directly connected with the history of:
- The role of the dockyard and its people;
- The development of Royal Navy warship design and construction; and
- The use of the River Medway by the Royal Navy and its support services, and their role in the development of Medway.
Our collection covers a wide range of objects and archival material; including three historic warships, 18th century manuscripts and over 10,000 photographs – to find out more download a copy of our Collections Development Policy (below).
We will endeavour to continue to facilitate archive research visits by appointment, however we are pausing object research visits during the collections move.
Blogs & Articles
Related Stories
Dive a little deeper into our Collections with our blogs and articles.
Collections Enquiries
For Collections enquiries, please contact the team via [email protected] or fill in the enquiry form below.
Due to the volume of enquiries we can only undertake a maximum of 30 minutes research per enquiry and we are therefore unable to answer enquiries to any great depth. If your enquiry requires more extensive research, you will receive a referral email/letter and our research volunteers will work with you to facilitate the enquiry.
Initial written enquires are responded to within 28 working days. In the case of in-depth research, the timescale will vary dependant on the nature of the research.