Kent Shipbuilding Conference is jointly organised by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Kent Archaeological Society to mark the 40th anniversary of the closure of the dockyard and to highlight Kent’s rich ship and boat building heritage.
From the Dover Bronze Age Boat through to the construction of vessels during the Second World War in Faversham the conference offers 2 days of fascinating talks and insight into the vessels, people and towns involved.
There will also be a chance to hear more about contemporary restoration work and to talk to people involved in research, restoration and heritage projects.
Tickets are available to book online here, either as a single day (Thursday or Friday) or you can save a few pounds by booking a 2-day ticket.
The conference fee includes tea, coffee & pastries on arrival and a sandwich buffet lunch.
The fee also includes entrance to the wider Historic Dockyard site, galleries, exhibitions and tours.
Programme
Thursday 7th November
9-9.30am Registration and Coffee
10.00am Welcome and Keynote - Richard Morsley (CEO Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust)
10.30am Outline of conference/ sessions – plus Maritime Kent SIG (5 mins) Stuart Bligh
10.35am Session 1- Restoration and Replica
Dover Bronze Age Boat – Paul Bennett
The Whitstable Oyster Yawl Gamecock: Past, Present and Future - Gordon Vincent
11.15am Panel questions
[11.35am Coffee/Tea Break]
12.00pm Session 2 – Ship Archaeology (Chair – Catherine Holt)
Uncovering the Mysteries of the Sandwich Bay wooden wrecks - Peta Knott
The Graveney Boat – Damian Goodburn
12.40 Panel questions
[1-3pm Lunch to include tours/time to look around CHD/networking etc]
3.00pm Session 3 – Shipbuilders/social (Chair – Vanessa Sanderson)
The Shipwrights of Deptford Dockyard – Brian Lavery
Shipbuilding, labour and politics in Kent yards since 1700 - David Killingray
The Austins - Shipwrights and Barge Builders – Sarah Austin
4.00 Panel questions
4.30pm Finish
Friday 8th November
9-9.30am Registration and Coffee
10.00am Session 1 - Shipbuilding during wartime (Chair – Martin Crowther)
Shipbuilding at Richborough Port during WW1 - Colin Varrall
James Pollock, Faversham; Making the Best of It – Henry Cleary
10.40 Panel questions
[11.00am Coffee/Tea Break]
11.30am Session 2 - Resources and research (Chair – Emma Ovenden)
Ship and Boatbuilding at Gravesend in the Days of Sail & Oar – David Patient
Shipbuilding in Kent: an overview of the ship plan archives at the NMM – Jeremy Michell
11.50 Panel questions
[12.10pm Lunch]
2.00pm Session 3 - Shipbuilding at Chatham (Chair – Nick Ball)
Achilles – The Ship that transformed Chatham - Dr Philip MacDougall
The Warship Anne - Richard Endsor
2.40 Panel questions
3.00 Closing remarks – summary of key points from conference etc including next steps etc for the Maritime Kent SIG
Some of the Royal Navy’s most famous ships were built at Chatham, including Nelson’s Victory, and yards like James Pollock & Sons in Faversham supplied ships and boats for customers across the world. Thriving local fishing businesses led to the construction of custom-built boats that are unique to Kent, like the Whitstable Whelk boats and the Medway Doble and Gravesend’s role as the entry point for the Port of London led to the development of a specific type of boat, the Gravesend Waterman’s skiff, to ferry passengers, pilots and customs officials back and forth to the ships at anchor off the town. Similarly, Deal Galleys were designed specifically to take people and goods out and back to ships anchored on the Downs.
