Comments on: From Spitalfields To Sheerness

By: John Simlett

John Simlett — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 19:09:07 +0000

Thanks for this. I was a shipwright apprentice and journeyman in ‘The Dockyard’ from 1954 – 1959, and was brought up outside the dockyard wall in Blue Town.

After a career in aviation, I returned to Sheerness for the first time in 2012. The devastation of Blue Town and the dockyard was shocking, with the shell of the Church bringing a tear to the eye.

They say you should never go back, but your photographs make it entirely possible. Many thanks.

By: Barry Smith

Barry Smith — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 02:41:25 +0000

I also lived in Number 1 Naval Terrace from 1960 for several years as a child. My father, James (Jim) Smith was employed by the commercial enterprise Sheerness Harbour Estate Ltd which bought the Dockyard from the Royal Navy. He was the General Manager until the site was taken over by the Thames and Medway Conservancy Board and was thereafter run by his erstwhile deputy, a Commander Dixon, I seem to recall . Wonderful buildings but unfortunately architectural gems surrounded by an incipient wasteland.

Barry Smith

By: Susan Horswell

Susan Horswell — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 09:11:08 +0000

My great grandfather, Richard Horswell, was born in Sheerness c1870. His fAther, my greAt great grandfather went there to work as a shipwright, he came from Padstow, Cornwall. The fAmily eventually returned to the Westcountey where my great great grandfather worked at HM Dockyard, Devonport,

By: Maggie Edwards

Maggie Edwards — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 19:55:10 +0000

I lived in Number 1 Naval Terrace as a child from 1955 until the dockyard closed. My father was in charge of the electrics in the dockyard and although I was only 7 when we left in 1959, I remember much about the house and the church. The house had 16 rooms and was on 4 floors including the basement and the attics. At night-time I used to climb out of my bedroom window and walk along the parapet to my friend’s bedroom, I think in Number 6. My parents never knew! I also remember walking along the wall between the gardens. We used to have lots of drinks parties at that time in the house in our second floor drawing room and my job was to hand around the silver cigarette box. I also remember tricycling around the docks – the wet and dry docks and going with my father down into the bowels of the ships to look at their electrics. At the entry to the docks were figureheads from wooden ships painted in glorious colours. I also remember going to the sea with my grandfather and watching the tide reveal one of the wrecks that was still there from the war. It was like a ghostly ship rising from the sea. We went to church regularly and I think we used to sing “For those in peril on the sea” every Sunday. My sister remembers the iron gates of the church especially well as, whilst playing chase with some boys, one of them pushed back the gate onto her and she lost her two front teeth! I also remember playing in the ground in front of the terrace. There were low brick and concrete bunkers presumably for soldiers to lie on their stomachs with their guns to defend the dockyard. We used to play hide and seek in them.
When we lived in Sheerness the road across the marshes was very wiggly and narrow and quite dangerous in the mists. The atmosphere was exactly like that conjured up by Dickens in Great Expectations. We were regularly stopped at the bridge both in the car and on the train because someone had escaped from the prison. Now there is a big main road going from the port to the mainland.
I am delighted that Naval Terrace and the church are to be restored. One day I will go back and see it.
My father was Eric Thomas Fitter ONLEY – 1906-1992

By: John McGarvey

John McGarvey — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 16:46:35 +0000

Wonderful news that this lovely old building is to be brought back to life.
I lived opposite from 1950 to 1952 in the now demolished barracks in
Garrison Road when these were occupied by 24 HAA Regt RA. I have
such wonderful memories of that time and was sad to see such changes
in the intervening years when I revisited for the first time this month –
this restoration in the dockyard area goes someway to retaining part at
least of what has been lost through thoughtless destruction.
Thank you to all involved in this effortt.

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:03:43 +0000

Would be great to see the church restored and rebuilt. My grandfather was in the Navy and he married my Grandmother at the church. When you see the wedding photos and the state of the church now, it saddens the heart.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 13:53:33 +0000

The Blue Town Heritage Centre does monthly tours of the dockyard. The centre is located in Blue Town High Street south of the dockyard wall. 01795 662981.

By: Tim Bell

Tim Bell — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:18:59 +0000

I’m so glad the Dockyard Church building is being saved by the Trust, especial as I was a former choirboy, in this once most beautiful church. The memories are still fresh in my mind, in the spring when we use to sing “All In The April Evenings”

http://youtu.be/jo3L-HCET18 ,

Very applicable for Sheppey an Isle full of Sheep. The head choirboy, John Lewis, Malcolm Brooks, and Geoff Wheatley just name a few!

November playing with the conkers from the conkers tree at the back of the church garden, and climbing up into the belfry and seeing the workings of the clock, and of course, the most wonderful spectacle of all the services, Navy, Army, Dockyard workers and so many others, with their banners held over the balcony, and the parade, lead by the choir to the cenotaph!

Meeting on Friday evenings for choir practice, and receiving 7/6p pocket money expenses

Christmas too was very special starting with the parade through the back gate of the church, [ as seen from the Regency Close view of the church as above] marching along to the Captain’s Superintendent’s house of the Dockyard, where we use to sing carols and then enjoyed the refreshments laid out on his magnificent oak table, ah Happy days indeed!

By: Roger Betts

Roger Betts — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 21:48:53 +0000

I would just like to say that people on the Isle of Sheppey are thrilled that Will Palin and Spitalfields have taken such an interest in the Sheerness Dockyard buildings. After watching their expertise in restoring Shurland Hall to us, I am totally confident that they will put all their efforts into conserving this part of Sheerness for the foreseeable future. So much of Sheppey’s fabulous history has been allowed to disappear into the mists of time, it’s great to see the possibility of the tide turning.

By: Annie

Annie — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 06:58:30 +0000

I’m glad these beautiful buildings are being saved, but I do wonder who will be able to afford to live in these huge houses once they’re restored. Though it is lovely to see them as they were originally made, at least if they were converted into flats they would be able to house more people and be more affordable…?

It seems curious that the Spitalfields Trust doesn’t have a website, it would be great to learn more.