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Trevor Edwards | all galleries >> Sheppey Pictures and Postcards >> Sheerness Dockyard > Number 4 Dry Dock Sheerness Kent
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Number 4 Dry Dock Sheerness Kent


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Noel Dollimore 10-Feb-2016 01:10
Hi Graham.
Yes that's correct, Ivan was my father's cousin, as a youngster, during summer holidays I used to spend days out with him and his crew on the 'Silver Star' (his boat), going out round the wreck when the weather allowed, or round the floating dock off the dockyard, or up along the Minster coastline, ahh happy days !!!
Just a little more info for you, my father was Fred Dollimore, bus driver at Sheerness depot for around 30 years, retiring in the late 60s, and we lived in Holmside avenue, along the Queenborough road, just past the Sheerness East Working Mens Club.
I hope this has helped you to sort things out.
Best regards, Noel.
Graham 06-Nov-2015 23:47
Noel - would you be a relative of Ivan Dolimore, who ran one of the pleasure boats off sheerness beach in the 60s?
Graham Bentley 28-Nov-2012 22:50
Hi Noel, I stated elsewhere in this section that the name Dollimore is familiar to me, but I can't place why. I lived at Halfway up Southdown Rd from around 1960 to 1966. Prior to that, I lived in Jefferson Rd, Sheerness. Went to Jefferson Road and the Tech schools. I can't for the life of me figure out why I think I know or have heard of you, or your family.
Noel Dollimore 08-Jan-2012 15:07
Hello Trevor.
I have just found your website an oh boy what memories you've stirred up for me.
I was born at the Halfway on Christmas Day 1945 and lived there until I got married in 1970. I now live in Sittingbourne so still not moved far away.
This is most certainly No4 Dock, I served my apprenticeship here from 1960 to 1966 with Medway Dry Dock Co. one of the first companies to set up in the dockyard after the Admiralty left on it's closure. During my time here the building directly at the head of the dock was divided in half, the left side being our blacksmiths shop, the right half, the shipwrights shop.
The building just visible behind on the right was our stores and the large building on the left (at the head of the slipway) was divided into three, Welders/Boilermakers shop, Engine Fitters shop, and Electricians shop (My section).
No5 Dock is situated to the left of the photo just out of shot, with the slipway further left.
No 4 Dock had a pair of VERY HEAVY gates manually operated by large capstans,(usually turned by two teams of around 10 to 15 of us for each opening and closing operation), whereas No5 had a Caisson which could be floated out as the tide rose.
Sorry for rambling on but as I said you've stirred up a lot of memories, Thank you.
Trevor Edwards15-Aug-2009 15:02
I bow to your superior knowledge. I have no real idea which dock it is James.
The picture was captioned number 5 when I found it. Sounds like you know your stuff, so I'll change it. Thanks.
James Pender 15-Aug-2009 11:34
Are you sure its No.5 Dry Dock, I have maps of the dockyard from 1858 to Modern day.
The 1908 & 1952 shows that the dock shown in this photo is No. 4 Dry Dock whic is the Dock that is nearer to the famous boat house.

The Building behind the dock is also still there and is called the 'Frame Bending shop' and the building behind the 'Frame Bending shop' is what use to be the 'North Saw Pits' (10 bay open structure providing cover for a pair of Saw Pits)that was late added to and became the 'Lay Apart Stores' and 'Fire Engine House'.

The Building on the other side of the photograph opposite the 'North Saw Pits' was the 'Ship Fitting Shop no.2' in 1908 and 'Ship Fitting Shop no.1' in 1952.
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