The Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham also known as HMS Pembroke was a navalbarracks built between the Victorian Steam Yard and Brompton Barracks between 1897 and 1902. It was built on the site of a prison built in 1853 to house over 1,000 convicts, with the intention that they would be used to build the Dockyard extension.
History
During the Age of Sail, the Royal Navy manned its ships either by recruitment or impressment; crew were retained for as long as they were needed and then usually dismissed when their ship was paid off at the end of a voyage or campaign. The introduction of Long Term Service in 1853, however, prompted the Navy to look at providing more permanent quarters for seamen in home waters. At first, they were almost invariably housed in hulks; it was only towards the end of the century that purpose-built barracks began to be constructed at each of the three principal Royal Navy Dockyards: Chatham, Devonport and Portsmouth. These barracks were designed to provide not just accommodation but also recreation and training facilities for men who were waiting to be appointed to ships. Designed by Colonel Henry Pilkington, construction of the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham began in 1897 and completed in December 1902.. By the beginning of the First World War, Chatham was one the Royal Navy’s three ‘manning ports’ - together with Plymouth and Portsmouth - manned by men allocated to the Chatham Division. This role was to continue until the advent of central manning in 1956. In September 1917 the barracks Drill Hall suffered a direct hit from two bombs in September 1917, which killed over 130 men. In 1942, King George VI made a visit to Medway and HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham. After the war Chatham became home to the reserve, or standby fleet. In 1957, the barracks and gunnery school were closed due to the local port divisions being replaced; however in 1959 the barracks re-opened as the Royal Naval Supply School, who trained staff in supply and secretarial work. When the Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, the regional operational commander appointment, was discontinued in March 1961, the barracks were being used as an accommodation centre for the re-fitting crews of the dockyard. The Drill Shed and Canteen were being used by the Dockyard. In 1970, all Naval establishments in Chatham were to be combined together and known as HM Navy Base, under one officer 'Flag Officer, Medway and Port Admiral'. With the closure of the Dockyard and Naval Base in 1984 HMS Pembroke was also decommissioned; the barracks gates were finally closed on 31 March 1984.
Gallery
Administration of the naval depot/barracks
Commodore-in-Command, Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham
