Dockyard Timeline

​“D” Lock completed.

29th April. The last battleship to be built at Portsmouth HMS Royal Sovereign was launched without ceremony. She was one of a class of five ships that were a slight... more information

23rd January. A fire started in the Electrical Shop in the Dockyard. By the combined efforts of the Dockyard and Corporation Fire Brigades it was brought under control but not... more information

28th May. King George V inspected the Royal Naval Barracks.

14th November. Submarines K.1 and K.2 floated up from the No. 13 Dry Dock in which they were built and followed later by K.5.

22nd January. The first WRNS volunteers came from women working in the Dockyard and the Division was formed. Later Dame Katherine Furse came to Whale Island to establish a depot... more information

The war record of the Dockyard was revealed for the first time by the Dockyard’s General Manager, Mr. John Apsey (Later Sir John). From the commencement of hostilities to... more information

The Price of Peace. The Admiralty announced that there were to be large discharges from Portsmouth Dockyard; these were inevitable but hard to live with. The Admiralty agreed to spread... more information

September. The Nab Tower was sunk in position and replaced the Nab Light ship. During 1918 the Admiralty planned to close the Straits of Dover to all but friendly shipping and... more information

8th June. The cruiser Effingham was launched from the Dockyard by the Marchioness of Salisbury. She was laid down on 6th April 1917 but with the coming of peace all work... more information

The Society for Nautical Research began a campaign to save HMS “Victory” for the nation.

12th January. HMS “Victory” towed from her berth in Portsmouth Harbour to a permanent berth in No. 2 Dry Dock where restoration was commenced (see 1765, 1805 and 1928). Local artist W. L. Wyllie ... more information

The Royal Marine Police formed. They replaced the Metropolitan Police Force at Chatham in 1932, Portsmouth in 1933 and Devonport in 1934.

4thJanuary. ‘M’ caisson on the north wall of No 3 Basin was closed and sealed. This entrance gave access to the basin from Fountain Lake and at one time was the... more information

1st June. The restoration work on HMS Victory was appropriately commenced on the anniversary of the “Glorious First of June”. Earl Howe, a direct descendent of the victor, took an... more information

Fleet Review by King George V. It was a sadly depleted fleet that assembled for this review when compared to that of 16th July 1914. Of the 59 battleships there were but 10.

15th October. The Naval War Memorial built on Clarence Esplanade was unveiled by the Duke of York. It showed the names of 9,279 men & women who died in World War... more information

Pitch House Jetty rebuilt this year. In the days of sail, pitch boilers were established on this jetty for the covering of ship’s bottoms with pitch.

12th November – while engaged in manoeuvres off Start Point the Portsmouth based submarine M1 dived and was not seen again. The crew of 68 officers and men all perished.

The Destroyer, HMS TORBAY, berths at South Railway Jetty with the coffin of General Lord Rawlinson of Kent, C-in-C India. See British Pathe News: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/late-lord-rawlinson... more information

21st April. Portsmouth becomes a City with a Lord Mayor. The Prince of Wales, on visit toPortsmouth, was created the first City Freeman.

15th March. Sir Phillip Watts KCB died. He was one of three talented sons of a Dockyard Shipwright holding the post of Timber Inspector of the Yard. Phillip entered the... more information

New Coppersmith Shop built just north of the MED Factory. This building is 210 ft. In length by 120 ft wide and was built by the Navy Works department at a cost... more information

820 men discharged from the Dockyard as redundant.

27th January. Portsmouth gave a splendid send-off to a 1.000 Royal Marines who had been selected for service in China. They embarked on the Transport Minnesota which left the next day.... more information

17th July. HMS “Victory” restoration to Trafalgar condition completed and opened to the public by King George V.

4th March. A start was made on rebuilding the Lion Gate under the Semaphore Tower.

A scheme introduced to give Dockyard men six days leave with pay. From 1930 this leave was taken during the first week in August. While the Dockyard was closed Navy Weeks... more information

26th May. A unprecedented event occurred in the Dockyard. The flags of one Admiral of the Fleet, three Admirals, three Vice-Admirals and two Commodores all flew their flags. The occasion... more information

1st October. Due to over crowding at the Royal Marine Barracks at Eastney, the Royal Marine School of Music was transferred to Deal in Kent.

30th September. The destroyers Crusader and Comet were christened and floated up in No. 13 Dry Dock where they had been built with the Mining School Tender Nightingale. They were the... more information

Sheer Jetty reconstructed in April. This jetty takes its name from the masting sheer legs that were built there between 1835-37 and were 142 ft. high. One of the hinge plates... more information

August King’s Stairs Jetty rebuilt into the form they are now (2008). Originally this jetty was referred to as the “Hulk” or landing jetty. Old drawings show it as a... more information

12th January. Battleship HMS Nelson ran aground on Hamilton Bank just outside the harbour entrance; she was got off on the next tide. At one point the whole crew assembled... more information

27th July. The launch of the light cruiser Amphion. She completed on 6th July 1936. Transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in June 1939 and re-named HMAS Perth, she was torpedoed and... more information

16th July. King George V’s Silver Jubilee Fleet Review. There assembled 157 major warships over 60 merchant ships and hundreds of smaller craft it was an impressive show of strength. From 10... more information

August. Navy Week. 206,752 people attended Navy Week at Portsmouth Dockyard visiting ships, dockside shows and other attractions demonstrating the Navy’s power.

10th December. The new King Edward VIII abdicated. He spoke to the nation of his “final and irrevocable decision to give up his great heritage”. In the darkness of the... more information

Dockyard Employees:- Captain of the Port 644 ConstructionDept 6,190 EngineeringDept 3,911 ElectricalDept 2,113 Naval StoresDept 803 Civil EngineeringDept 1,241 Others 59 Total 14,961

16th July. Portsmouth and Southampton civic authorities organise an exercise in which the dockyard and city was bombed with many casualties. Government ministers and many other cities and town throughout... more information

Victory Museum (later the Royal Naval Museum, and now the National Museum of the Royal Navy) opened, including the Trafalgar panorama painted by W L Wylie, assisted by his daughter. ... more information

23rd November. Queen Maud of Norway had died in a nursing home in London on 20th November. Her body lay in state at the Chapel at Marlborough House, St James’... more information

30th April. At the invitation of the C-in-C, the City Council and their principal officer paid an official visit to the Dockyard Church. After robing at Admiralty House, the Civic... more information

24th. June. The large Floating Dock was towed out of harbour by five dockyard tugs and two Dutch tugs followed astern to render assistance if necessary. For the journey the... more information

4th September. The City Chimes of the Guildhall clock were stopped in consequence of the introduction of war-time precautions.

The Pocket on the west side of No. 3 basin built.

21st September. – Duke and Duchess of Windsor arrived in Portsmouth at 9pm on board the Destroyer HMS Kelly (Mountbatten’s ship) from France and stayed overnight at Admiralty House. They... more information

19th May – the Queen of Holland came to Portsmouth to visit Dutch ships that had come to Portsmouth to avoid capture by the Germans i.e.: 1 cruiser, 1 half completed cruiser, 3... more information

25th May – Parachute mines laid by the German aircraft in both the Western and Eastern channels. On the 30th they were also laid off the Nab Tower.

3rd July. There were many French warships in the harbour, including one battleship, which had come to Portsmouth to escape the Germans. With the fall of France it was feared... more information

8th June – Portsmouth prepared a small armada of 200 boats from south coast ports to evacuate the 51st Highland division from St Valery. They had been attached to the French army... more information

18th September. The Anti-aircraft cruiser Sirius was launched from No. 5 slipway of the Dockyard. It was a period of anxiety for the Dockyard Management as an air raid during the... more information

Royal Clarence Yard - many buildings damaged by bombing in 1940.

6 December 1940 – Chain Cable Test House badly damaged by a direct hit.

23rd December. Tremendous explosion near the Unicorn gate that left a huge crater and did much damage to the surrounding area. It was believed to have been a German aircraft... more information

10th January. Air raid lasted from 7-30 until 2 in the morning. The City and Dockyard very badly hit with much damage, numerous fires and large numbers of casualties. Between 11th... more information

10th March 1941 – Floating Dock sunk in a direct hit from a bomb. In January, 200 incendiary bombs had fallen on Fort Blockhouse. Over 200,000 sq ft of storage space containing food were... more information

3rd April. The Admiralty announced the spirited defence by the Naval Paddle Sweeper Lorna Doone that before the war was well known as a pleasure steamer in the Solent. She... more information

12th October. King George makes his fourth visit to the Dockyard and town since the beginning of the war. In the Naval Barracks he takes the salute as 6,000 men of... more information

1943. Frederick Street, Gloucester Street and Marlborough Row, Portsea taken into the Dockyard (5 acres). Marlborough Gate originally built in 1711 was moved to the apex at Bonfire Corner. This area had been... more information

19th March. The submarines Tireless and Token built in No. 13 Dry Dock were floated up and completed in 1944.

November. The Main Gate (Victory Gate) of the Dockyard was widened from 12ft. to 22ft. to cater for the wider loads of modern warfare. In widening it lost its ornamental... more information

HMS Centurion, Durban, and HMNS Sumatra were prepared as block ships in the Dockyard. HMS Dispatch, Largs, Hilary and Bulolo were converted as Headquarter ships for Force Commanders while in... more information

The Admiralty Testing Tank Department at Haslar was almost continually at work on testing models and other experiments for PLUTO, Phoenix Caissons and many other aspects of the Mulberry Harbours... more information

5th June. General Eisenhower visited troops embarking from South Parade Pier.

15th July. The last serious raid on Portsmouth when a V.1. (Dooglebug) crashes in Newcomen Rd., Stamshaw. Brian Patterson was a small boy attending Stamshaw school at this time and... more information

From 3rd September 1939 until the end of the Second World War, the Dockyard had Dry Docked 2.548 vessel of all classes.

19th December. The swing bridge connecting the Railway Viaduct at Portsmouth Harbour Station to South Railway Jetty in the dockyard was lifted out of position and subsequently reduced to scrape. ... more information

The bombed out buildings that once formed Clarence Barrack, Southsea were transformed into the first permanent home for members of the W.R.N.S. at Portsmouth. By permission of... more information

On 1st February the King, Queen, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret sailed from Portsmouth aboard HMS “Vanguard” for a Royal tour of South Africa. It was a dreary wet day... more information

1st October. At the end of the War the Chief Constable at the Admiralty had three police forces under his control: Royal Marine Police, Royal Marine Police Special Reserve and... more information

11th December Winston Churchill receives the Freedom of the City. In his reply to the Freedom address he said: “Portsmouth is the main cradle of the Royal Navy. Portsmouth has... more information

11th July. The statue of Lord Nelson presented to the City by Dr. H. J. Aldous was erected in Pembroke Gardens and unveiled by the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Arthur Power.

25th March. Keel laying Ceremony of the new Anti Aircraft Frigate Leopard by Mrs. A. G. V. Hubback, wife of the Admiral Superintendent. She switched on an automatic welding set... more information

23rd May. The launching of HMS Leopard. She was one of a class of four vessels designed as Anti-Aircraft Frigates entitled Type 41 although they were affectionately were known as the... more information

14th January. HMS “Victorious” re-commissioned after a £20 million refit. She came in hand in the Dockyard on 10th October 1950 and was dry-docked in D Lock on 12th December 1950. It was... more information

23rd March. HMS Rhyl launched from the Dockyard. Known as a Type 12 Anti-Submarine Frigate. A class of 15 vessels built in two groups; the earlier version was known as the Whitby... more information

Great Ropehouse, until this date the longest building in Europe (1095 ft 8 ½ ins), was divided into two, gutted, restored and the roof replaced. (Now No. 18 Store).

13th March. Admiralty Floating Dock 59 was floated up. The 400ft long Dock was built in No. 15 dry dock to suit destroyers, frigates and nuclear submarines.

Last steam locomotive in dockyard retired from service. From this date diesel engines took over (see 1940). Three steam locomotives were retained for use as mobile dockside boilers and were finally... more information

1st April. After 168 years of service with the Admiralty the Navy Works Department was transferred to the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works.

1,300 Shipwrights employed in the Dockyard at this date.

Admiralty Floating Dock 60 built in C Lock was completed. It had a lifting capacity of 6000 tons and was intended for use by nuclear submarines.

Central Office Block 1 opened. The seven storey building had a rare “paternoster” lift.

31stJuly. Naval Rum issue abolished. For a fascinating insight into the making of the rum and other barrels for the Royal Navy view the film made in 1970 at:“Vanishing craft... more information

30th September. Mrs Gibbon, wife of the Production Manager performed the floating up ceremony of Dumb Lighters 1706 and 1707. Both vessels were designed and built in the dockyard in No. 8 dry... more information

November. The last of the dock-side steam cranes was dismantled. It ran along the west side of No. 14 dry dock and was one of four erected when the dry dock... more information

Central Office Block II opened in March. The building was 200ft. x 42.6” and had seven floors which provided accommodation for the Design Division Staff, records, and printing section. Also included... more information

Amalgamated Pipe Shop opened.

1st October. In 1959 it was decided that all yard craft previously under the control of various dockyard, victualling, naval stores and armaments departments should be brought under one authority that... more information

HRH Prince Charles took command of Coastal Minesweeper HMS Bronington (see 1971).

Cranes dismantled in preparation for filling in No 1, 2 & 5 slipways.

Dockyard work force 8325.

20th June. The dockyard came to a virtual standstill as the work force down tools and marched out of the dockyard on a one day’s token strike. This followed... more information

The giant 240 ton crane on the Promontory was used to lift the latest new construction into the water, the 100 ton sullage lighter SL04. She is one of a pair the... more information

December. RMAS Tug Forceful, last of the Portsmouth dockyard paddle tugs goes out of service with a bang. It was to be her last duty with the press; photographers and... more information

25th June Mr John Nott, Defence Secretary, announced severe contraction of Portsmouth Dockyard and closure of Chatham Dockyard by 1984. Proposed reduction of Portsmouth Dockyard labour force from 7,200 to 1,200.(see 1984)

9th September. The Secretary of State for Defence, Mr. John Nott made a visit to the Dockyard and tried to address a crowd of up to 2.000 employees outside Central Office... more information

21st July. Ecstatic scenes in Portsmouth Harbour as Flagship of the Falklands Islands War, Task Force, HMS “Hermes”, returns to her home port. Since leaving Portsmouth on 5th April she... more information

Government announced plans to close HMS “Phoenix” in 1984. HMS “Excellent, HMS “Vernon” with Fraser Gunnery Range to close in 1986.

26th July. The new Fleet Maintenance Facility at North Corner was opened by Admiral Sir William Staveley, Commander-in-Chief Fleet. This new facility was staffed mainly by RN personnel.

31st October. The last Foreman of the Foundry, Mr Ken Snook, turned the key for the last time on the closure of the Iron Foundry and Pattern-Makers shop. The last... more information

March. Discovery of No. 2 basin caisson. During road surfacing works on the north-western corner of No. 2 basin the top of the original iron caisson of 1845 was discovered at the site... more information

10th March. The 27,000 ton aircraft carrier HMS Bulwark made her last journey from Portsmouth. Known affectionately in the yard as the “rusty B”, she was towed out of the harbour... more information

5th July. A serious fire burnt out the north entrance to No 1 Ship Shop. The original name was No. 1 Shipbuilding Shop but for some unknown reason the word building was... more information