News

Refurbishment of Submarine Wardroom Model

One special model included in CDHS’s extensive collection is of a submarine’s Wardroom.  One of our early members, Ted Gutteridge, crafted the model which gives great attention to detail.  This model was originally on display in the Lead and Paint Mill Museum before it was moved out from there and put in storage. 

During 2025, Perry Durso, one of our members was attracted to the model because of its fine construction.  Whilst in storage the model inevitably collected dust and the colours faded.  Perry carefully worked on it to clean it up and refresh it ready for display.  During this project the carpet, curtains, varnished panelling and cupboards were all smartened up.  Replacement interior lighting was fitted, new carpet laid and the outside curved submarine casing painted matt black – just as real submarines are.   

Like other naval vessels, a Wardroom on a nuclear submarine is the Officers mess for primarily dining, relaxing, and recreational space.  (The Commanding Officer is not a member of the Wardroom and has his own cabin).  

CDHS acknowledges the help and assistance of the Trust Collections Team in providing a plinth and interpretation panel.

The refurbished model is now on public display amongst other submarine displays in the Steam, Steel and Submarines Gallery. 

If you plan to visit us, you will find the opening days and times here. ----  Alternatively, for further information, please e-mail us at [email protected]

¬ ¬ ¬ ¬¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬

Shirley Goodhew awarded BEM in King's Birthday Honours List

We are delighted to announce this award to our past Chairman and President.  This is an extract from the London Gazette dated 15th June 2024

British Empire Medal
Civil Division
Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
St. James’s Palace, London SW1

15 June 2024

THE KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty’s Birthday, to approve the award of the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) to the undermentioned:

B.E.M.

Shirley Ellen GOODHEW
former Chair and President, Chatham Dockyard Historical Society

For services to Heritage and to the community in Kent.

Shirley after the presentation with The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent The Lady Colgrain

¬ ¬ ¬ ¬¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬

Crawshaw's "History of Chatham Dockyard"

CDHS has always known of James Crawshaw's passion for the subject and have been aware of his unpublished notes, keeping in touch with his wife, Grace Crawshaw in her retirement and subsequently Isabel Garford, his daughter.

Many of our Society members were taught by James D Crawshaw MBE, MSc, Dip Ed and a Head of Department at the Dockyard Technical School, and have a great respect for his talents.  We knew that he had produced excellent books on St. Mary's Church and the Dockyard School, but we were also aware that his Magnum Opus was only published in a limited print run of 50 or so bound copies in 1999.

We are exceedingly glad that Grace and Isabel completed Crawshaw's History of Chatham Dockyard, it surpasses all our expectations, and students of this country's maritime history will forever be grateful.  It will become the definitive work on the subject and a fitting tribute to this fascinating Historic Dockyard.  Acknowledgements to these key people who were instrumental in permitting the book to be republished:- Mrs Isabel Garford (Jim Crawshaws' daughter); Richard Boorman whose original idea it was, Andy Boorman (Richard Boorman's son) and Len Boorman (Richard Boorman's brother), and CDHS for urging the project forward.

The book is available to access as searchable PDF documents via the three Section links below.

(NOTE:- While the hard copy book was published in two volumes, for ease of reading it is split into three Sections. Readers will find Volume 1 Contents List on page 3 of 502 and Volume 2 Contents List on Page  427 of 502 in download Section 1.  Indices for the whole book commence at Page 114 of 208 in download Section 3.  This is the original version and has not been updated.)

¬ ¬ ¬ ¬¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬

Dockyard Photograph Collection

As a result of the hard work undertaken by our Photographic Section of CDHS, we are pleased to announce that over 20,000 photographs have been digitised and are now available for viewing online at www.cdhsimages.org.  A little work still needs to be done to tidy things up and to begin with you will be asked for a username and password.  You should use "user" for the user name and "password" for the password.  This requirement will be removed in the near future.