TQ 77 SE 1425 - A defensive chain across the Medway to protect Chatham Dockyard and Upnor Castle

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Maritime record TQ 77 SE 1425 - A defensive chain across the Medway to protect Chatham Dockyard and Upnor Castle

Summary

A defensive chain across the Medway to protect Chatham Dockyard and Upnor Castle was installed at times of danger to national security in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was first recorded in 1585 on the declaration of war with Spain, which led up to the Armada event, during which time it remained in situ. It was later replaced by a boom of floating timbers, which was allowed to lapse during the reign of Charles I, thus been 1625 and 1649, although there were calls to reinstate it. Another chain boom was placed between Hoo Ness and Gillingham prior to the Dutch Raid on the Medway in 1667, a major defeat for the English during the last few weeks of the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-7). It was supported across the river by a number of platforms and a crane house which was to 'hawl it taught', as described by Samuel Pepys in his Diary, and which was burnt during the attack. There was also artillery support from hastily-built battery platforms on either side, which mounted a defence as events unfolded. On 12 June 1667 Dutch ships forced the chain, led by the VREDE, followed by two fireships. English ships reinforcing the chain to the east, i.e. 'outside' the chain, were the MARMADUKE and the NORWICH MERCHANT. The first, the SUSANNA, was unable to break the chain and caught fire; the second was the PRO PATRIA which 'rode hard at the chain, and broke it', then dispatched the MATTHIAS, one of the two guard-ships lying west of the chain as reinforcements. The DELFTand the SCHIEDAM then attacked the CAROLUS QUINTUS, the second guard-ship at the chain. The PROSPEROUS was also fired near the chain. Samuel Pepys, in his administrative role at the Admiralty, examined the chain in the aftermath of the Raid, thus leaving an excellent description of its physical properties. This chain was in the process of removal by September 1667.

Location

Grid reference	TQ 7607 7046 (point)
Map sheet	TQ77SE
County	KENT
Civil Parish	GILLINGHAM, MEDWAY, KENT

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Type and Period (1)

BOOM (Post Medieval - 1585 AD to 1667 AD)

Full Description

<1> Saunders, A. D., 1985, Upnor Castle, Kent (Monograph). SWX7218.

<2> Rogers P G, 1970, The Dutch in the Medway (Bibliographic reference). SKE56188.

<3> 1765-, London Gazette, Thursday, June 13, to Monday, June 17, 1667, No.165 (Newspaper). SKE56185.

<4> Pepys S, 1667, The Diary of Samuel Pepys (Bibliographic reference). SKE56186.

<5> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, 1667, Vol.198, No.74 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<6> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, May 1667, Vol.136, No.462, (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<7> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, 1667, Vol.200, No.16 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<8> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, May 1667, Vol.136, No.474 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<9> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, May 1667, Vol.136, No.479, (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<10> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, June 1667, Vol.136, No.488 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<11> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, June 1667, Vol.136, No.496 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<12> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, June 1667, Vol.136, No.499, (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<13> Pepys S, 1667, The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Wednesday 12 June, 1667 (Bibliographic reference). SKE56186.

<14> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, 1667, Vol.205, No.74 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<15> Pepys S, 1667, The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Charles II, 1667, Vol.205, No.74 (Bibliographic reference). SKE56186.

<16> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, 1667, Vol.205, No.78 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<17> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, 1667, Vol.206, No.100, (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<18> Pepys S, 1667, The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Sunday 30 June, 1667 (Bibliographic reference). SKE56186.

<19> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, 1667, Vol.216, No.15 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<20> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Charles II, 1667, Vol.216, No.131 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<21> 2014, Compiler's comments: 29-APR-2014 (Verbal communication). SKE56210.

<22> Compiler's comments, 2014, Examination of Admiralty Chart 1834 on 29-APR-2014 (Verbal communication). SKE56211.

<23> Peter Higginbotham, Higginbotham, Peter. 2000. The Workhouse., Prints (Website). SKE53741.

Sources/Archives (23)

<1> SWX7218 Monograph: Saunders, A. D.. 1985. Upnor Castle, Kent.
<2> SKE56188 Bibliographic reference: Rogers P G. 1970. The Dutch in the Medway.
<3> SKE56185 Newspaper: 1765-. London Gazette. Thursday, June 13, to Monday, June 17, 1667, No.165.
<4> SKE56186 Bibliographic reference: Pepys S. 1667. The Diary of Samuel Pepys.
<5> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, 1667, Vol.198, No.74.
<6> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, May 1667, Vol.136, No.462,.
<7> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, 1667, Vol.200, No.16.
<8> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, May 1667, Vol.136, No.474.
<9> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, May 1667, Vol.136, No.479,.
<10> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, June 1667, Vol.136, No.488.
<11> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, June 1667, Vol.136, No.496.
<12> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, State Papers Supplementary, June 1667, Vol.136, No.499,.
<13> SKE56186 Bibliographic reference: Pepys S. 1667. The Diary of Samuel Pepys. Wednesday 12 June, 1667.
<14> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, 1667, Vol.205, No.74.
<15> SKE56186 Bibliographic reference: Pepys S. 1667. The Diary of Samuel Pepys. Charles II, 1667, Vol.205, No.74.
<16> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, 1667, Vol.205, No.78.
<17> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, 1667, Vol.206, No.100,.
<18> SKE56186 Bibliographic reference: Pepys S. 1667. The Diary of Samuel Pepys. Sunday 30 June, 1667.
<19> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, 1667, Vol.216, No.15.
<20> SKE6354 Bibliographic reference: Calendar of State Papers Domestic. Charles II, 1667, Vol.216, No.131.
<21> SKE56210 Verbal communication: 2014. Compiler's comments: 29-APR-2014.
<22> SKE56211 Verbal communication: Compiler's comments. 2014. Examination of Admiralty Chart 1834 on 29-APR-2014.
<23> SKE53741 Website: Peter Higginbotham. Higginbotham, Peter. 2000. The Workhouse.. Prints.

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Non-Intrusive Event: NHPP Naval Battlefields Project (EKE20884)

Record last edited

Jun 18 2024 3:10PM