Command of the Oceans

The Chatham Historic Dockyard Chatham is an internationally important site, with a close historic connection with the age of sail, and the early period of the age of steam.

The trust focused of four of the site’s 47 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, and the ‘ship beneath the floor’ – the remains of a highly significant warship.

The aim was to better interpret the history of the dockyard through the preservation of this archaeological find, and improve access to Chatham’s wider naval and military heritage.

The project has created two new, linked public spaces, family-friendly visitor spaces and a free-to-enter discovery centre. Existing buildings have been bought together and enhanced through the addition of new facilities, and ancient monuments better preserved and presented for more visitors to enjoy.

The new buildings, and adaptations to existing structures, were of such high quality that Command of the Oceans has been placed on the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist.

For more information, please visit the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust’s website.