The closure of the Dockyard

The dockyard closed in 1984. Extra staff were hired to assist with the closure of the dockyard as permanent staff had moved on to find other work. We hear the story of one of those new temporary recruits who was also fascinated by the buildings and history of the dockyard. She mentions Charles Dickens who grew up in Chatham and whose father worked at the dockyard. Dickens' describes the building of HMS Achilles (1860s) at Chatham Dockyard in his book, 'The Uncommercial Traveller'. The accompanying image is of HMS Achilles being built.