PITCHER’S DOCKYARD 1789 - 1860
At our meeting in St Botolph’s church hall on Tuesday 3rd June, our chairman, Ken McGoverin, gave a presentation on the history of Pitcher’s Dockyard at Northfleet. Starting in 1789 with the launch of the 54-gun East Indiaman, Royal Charlotte, it soon became Northfleet’s most important industry, employing at its peak around 2,000 men. Many ships were built at Northfleet for the East India Company, the Royal Navy and for foreign navies, including the Imperial Russian Navy, whose fleet was refitted here. The Dockyard declined as wooden warships were gradually replaced by ironclad vessels and sail gave way to steam. The entrance to the Dockyard was through a castellated gateway built using stones from old London Bridge, known locally as Northfleet Castle. This gateway survived into the 1920s, after Bowater’s paper mill had been built on the site.
We now take a break from indoor meetings for the summer, during which we shall be involved in various activities, including mounting an exhibition of photographs of old Northfleet at St Botolph’s church fete and enjoying outings to various places of interest.
We now take a break from indoor meetings for the summer, during which we shall be involved in various activities, including mounting an exhibition of photographs of old Northfleet at St Botolph’s church fete and enjoying outings to various places of interest.