THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH

THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH, MAIN GATE ROAD

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Church. 1808-1811 by Edward Holl, architect for the Navy Board. Late Georgian Classical Style. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1268203
Date first listed:: 24-May-1971
List Entry Name:: THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH
Statutory Address:: THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH, MAIN GATE ROAD

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Date:: 1999-10-05
Reference:: IOE01/00742/17
Rights:: © Mr M.K Lofthouse. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1268203
Date first listed:: 24-May-1971
Date of most recent amendment:: 25-Feb-2011
List Entry Name:: THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH
Statutory Address 1:: THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH, MAIN GATE ROAD

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH, MAIN GATE ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Medway (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ 75897 68975

Details

762-1/1/74 MAIN GATE ROAD 24-MAY-71 CHATHAM DOCKYARD (South side) THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH MAIN GATE ROAD CHATHAM DOCKYARD (South side) THE ROYAL DOCKYARD CHURCH

II* Church. 1808-1811 by Edward Holl, architect for the Navy Board. Late Georgian Classical Style.

MATERIALS: brick with stone dressings and a slate roof, internal cast-iron members.

PLAN: rectangular plan.

EXTERIOR: two storeys and basement; three-bay east end. The wide pedimented ends have recessed outer bays, with plat band and eaves cornice all round. The east end has a central Venetian window, and outer segmental-arched ground-floor windows and first-floor round-arched windows set in matching recesses; metal framed windows. Six-bay north and south sides with windows as the end outer bays. West end of five bays, with a central doorway with moulded surround and bracketed cornice, to double doors each with eight raised panels, and lower outer doorways with architraves and pulvinated frieze and cornice, to eight-panel doors, and intermediate segmental-arched windows; upper windows as the sides, with an oculus in the pediment. INTERIOR: a largely complete interior has a gallery on three sides on reeded cast-iron columns and the Royal Coat of Arms to the centre, panelled wainscot and gallery; panelled plaster ceiling; decorated east window with gilded Corinthian capitals. Wide timber roof trusses with queen and prince posts. Most of the original fittings replaced: C19 benches to the gallery, and a good late C19 octagonal pulpit with an iron rail to curved steps, turned posts to the corners and arched panels.

HISTORY: before the construction of the Chapel, employees used the local church or converted hulks moored at the quay. Notable for its plan modelled on Non-conformist chapels, as are the dockyard chapels at Portsmouth and Sheerness (qqv), and occupying a strong position facing the entrance to the Yard. Contains the earliest use of structural cast-iron in a royal dockyard. An important part of a complete Georgian dockyard.

SOURCES: Newman, J, Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald (1976) p 205; Coad, J, Historic Architecture of Chatham Dockyard 1700-1850 (1982) p 169; Coad, J, Historic Architecture of the Royal Navy (1983), p 117; Coad, J, The Royal Dockyards 1690-1850 (1989) p 27-28.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The Royal Dockyard Church is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * architectural interest: early-C19 dockyard church notable for its plan modelled on non-conformist chapels and largely complete interior; * historical interest: as a part of the world's most complete example of an historic dockyard from the age of sail and early steam; * technological innovation: earliest use of structural cast-iron in a royal dockyard.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 462105
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Coad, J , Historic Architecture of Chatham Dockyard 1700-1850, (1982), 169
Coad, J , Historic Architecture of the Royal Navy, (1983), 117
Newman, J, The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald, (1976), 205

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.