24th July saw the launch of No. 1 Smithery: National Treasures Inspiring Culture, a brand new maritime museum in Chatham, Kent.
A joint venture between The National Maritime Museum, The Imperial War Museum and The Historic Dockyard Chatham, the collection features 4,000 model ships as wells as marine art and artefacts.
Collaborating with Van Heyningen & Haward, Purcell Miller Tritton led two phases of repair at the Smithery building and acted as conservation advisers, helping to secure Heritage Lottery Funding, leading negotiations with English Heritage and advising on the transformation of the historic building into a new museum.
The design has delivered a secure, controlled environment for the artefacts without obscuring the historic fabric and character of the building. The original walls and steel superstructure have been repaired using compatible materials with sound elements left in their raw state so that visitors can see how the building would have looked when it was in use.
No. 1 Smithery is a Grade II* listed Scheduled Ancient Monument. It was constructed between 1806 and 1808 and used for the manufacture of anchors and chains. After the Dockyard closed in the 1980s, the Smithery fell into dereliction and was included on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register. The building had no effective rainwater disposal or roof coverings, extensive vegetation growing at roof level and clear evidence of subsidence. Now the Smithery has been brought back to life and will play an important part in the regeneration of Chatham.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham contains over 100 buildings and structures mainly built between 1704 and 1855. During this period, it was the Royal Navy's most important shipbuilding and repair yard and an important fleet base. Now it is a maritime heritage site of international significance.