Number 1 Workbase

NUMBER 1 WORKBASE, MAIN GATE ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1378631
Date first listed:
13-Aug-1999
List Entry Name:
Number 1 Workbase
Statutory Address:
NUMBER 1 WORKBASE, MAIN GATE ROAD
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Date:
2004-07-19
Reference:
IOE01/11963/04
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:
1378631
Date first listed:
13-Aug-1999
List Entry Name:
Number 1 Workbase
Statutory Address 1:
NUMBER 1 WORKBASE, MAIN GATE 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:
NUMBER 1 WORKBASE, 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 75855 69215

Details

TQ 76 NE CHATHAM MAIN GATE ROAD
Chatham Dockyard
762-1/8/88
No.1 Workbase

GV II*


Workshop. 1861, erected by Grissels, with later extension and heightening to roof structure. Cast- and wrought-iron frame with brick infill between stanchions to exterior and with corrugated iron cladding to front and rear gables and to roof; additional glazing and clerestorey to roof. L-plan, with long range alongside No.2 dock (qv) added soon after the construction of an approx. 90- foot deep workshop range constructed at the head of the infilled No.1 dock. Gabled front, with
-double entry: is mostly glazed with thin vertical glazing bars below roof line. Two glazing-bar sashes to left. Rear gable and left-hand return has similar row of glazed lights, the latter above row of mid C20 casement windows with double doors to left. Right-hand return has row of fixed lights with small-pane casements. Range of similar construction alongside No.2 dock has brick facing to dockside (right) return.
INTERIOR: 5-bay front block, with I-section stanchions cast with brackets to left-hand side and wrought-iron trusses raised to present height in c.1886. Wrought-iron roof with traveller crane still in-situ in range alongside No.2 dock.
HISTORY: this building is a highly significant survival within the context of both naval and commercial shipbuilding in the C19.lt was built in order to house the forges and furnaces for the building of HMS Achilles in No.2 dock. Achilles was the first iron ship built in the British naval yards, in response to the French navy's 'Gloire'. Chatham was chosen because of its proximity to the Thames yards. The original design drawings were sent to Chatham in October 1860, when the matter of altering the dock to accommodate Achilles -and provide flanking taveller cranes - and building the workshops was put in hand. This building contained a furnace for heating armour plate, and machinery for the subsequent bending and planing processes. Drawings dated May 1886 show the roof and its intended heightening, which must have been carried out soon afterwards.
(Evans D: Archive Research for English Heritage, 1996)


Listing NGR: TQ7588269200

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
476585
Legacy System:
LBS

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 Number 1 Workbase

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

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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