Numbers 4 5 and 6 Slip Covers and Machine Shop Number 6

NUMBERS 4 5 AND 6 SLIP COVERS AND MACHINE SHOP NUMBER 6, MAIN ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1378594
Date first listed:
13-Aug-1999
List Entry Name:
Numbers 4 5 and 6 Slip Covers and Machine Shop Number 6
Statutory Address:
NUMBERS 4 5 AND 6 SLIP COVERS AND MACHINE SHOP NUMBER 6, MAIN ROAD
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Date:
2004-07-19
Reference:
IOE01/11801/33
Rights:
© Mr M.K Lofthouse. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1378594
Date first listed:
13-Aug-1999
List Entry Name:
Numbers 4 5 and 6 Slip Covers and Machine Shop Number 6
Statutory Address 1:
NUMBERS 4 5 AND 6 SLIP COVERS AND MACHINE SHOP NUMBER 6, MAIN ROAD

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

Location

Statutory Address:
NUMBERS 4 5 AND 6 SLIP COVERS AND MACHINE SHOP NUMBER 6, MAIN 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 75951 69499

Details

TQ 76 NE CHATHAM MAIN ROAD
(West side) Chatham Dockyard
762-1/8/79
Nos.4, 5 and 6 Slip Covers
and Machine Shop No.6

GV I


Slip covers. 1845-47, by Messrs George Baker and Sons. Cast and wrought iron frame with corrugated iron sides and roof.
PLAN: rectangular plan with aisles, connected into a single cover over the three slips. Each of one storey; 10-bay range. Three wide gables with the frame exposed and 4 stages, open at ground-floor beneath a continuous glazed stage, 6-light second and 4-light third stages, with corrugated sheet gables, sides and roof, and folding doors.
A 3-bay left-hand section connects with the No.3 slip cover (qv) has iron posts to a corrugated-iron upper floor with 3 metal-framed windows.
INTERIOR: composite iron frames have I-section cast-iron columns with vestigial Tuscan capitals, a wide semi-circular arch across the slips, with principal rafters which extending out over the aisles, and segmental arches each side over the aisles, with diagonal braces, connected longitudinally by light trussed purlins. Various attached fittings for line shafting, and supports to gantry crane by G BUTCHARD/GRAVESEND.
HISTORY: covers for ship-building slips were introduced from c1814 because of the rapid deterioration of wooden ships exposed to the weather during construction. The earliest all-metal covers were built at Pembroke in the early 1840s. The Baker roofs differ however from earlier slip roofs in relying less on the cantilever effect of the outside aisle roofs. They managed moreover to double the distance between the frames established by earlier roofs to 9.5m, connecting them and supporting the roof by light trussed purlins. An exceptionally early example of a complete iron frame, and an important landmark in constructional history (Newman). Earlier iron roofs (demolished) had been closely modelled on the patterns of the Seppings wooden roofs. Brackets for travellers were inserted in 1863.
Forms a fine group with the 1837 timber slip cover to the S (qv) and the larger 1855 slip cover to the N (qv) and the other iron covers in the steam Dockyard to the N, all manifesting the remarkable progression in the development of free-standing engineering frames.
(Sources: Coad J: Historic Architecture of Chatham Dockyard 1700-1850: London: 1982: 182 ; Coad J: The Royal Dockyards 1690-1850: Aldershot: 1989: 114-115 ; The Buildings of England: Newman J: West Kent and the Weald: London: 1976: 206 ; Newcomen Society: Sutherland RJM: Shipbuilding and the Long-Span Roof: Paper read at Science Museum: 1989: 15-17).


Listing NGR: TQ7595169499

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
476547
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Newman, J, The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald, (1969), 206
Coad, J G, The Royal Dockyards 1690-1850: Architecture and Engineering Works of the Sailing Navy, (1989), 114-115
Coad, J, Historic Architecture of Chatham Dockyard 1700-1850, (1982), 182

Legal

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

Ordnance survey map of Numbers 4 5 and 6 Slip Covers and Machine Shop Number 6

Map

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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