Local History Society Visits Dockyard Church

The trust were recently pleased to have the chance to show members from The Sheppey Local History Society progress at Dockyard Church. The History Society have been huge supporters of the project since its early days and they were eager to have a tour, take pictures, and see how far restoration work had progressed.

Chairman, Will Palin, speaks with members from The Sheppey Local History Society.
Photo by Chris Foulds, SDPT Trustee.

The tour of the site and building started with the Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Chairman, Will Palin, explaining the process of the renovation work and the challenges the trust have faced to date.

He went on to say that the project is on track, with exterior works close to completion and the interior fit out underway.


Members of The Sheppey Local History Society enter the church as part of the tour.
Photo by Chris Foulds, SDPT Trustee.

Roger Betts, member of The Sheppey Local History Society and who administers the Facebook group, The Sheppey History Page said …

“The Sheppey Local History Society have visited the Dockyard Church site on several occasions during the renovation work and each visit proves to be a joy.

To see the work that has been carried out is really inspiring and to see the building now standing solid as a rock is a commendation for the work that has been carried out. Many thanks to Will, Richard and the rest of the Trust for their informative hospitality.”

The tour also included a talk from SDPT Vice Chairman, Andrew Byrne. Andrew explained the structural concept and design of a stone cantilever staircase. Both the original staircases were destroyed in the 2001 fire and one is being reinstated as part of the renovation project under a specialist from PAYE Stone.

SDPT Vice Chairman, Andrew Byrne explains how cantilever staircases work.
Photo by Chris Foulds, SDPT Trustee.

SDPT Chairman, Will Palin accepts the donation from The Sheppey Local History Society.
Photo by Chris Foulds, SDPT Trustee.

Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust were grateful to receive a cheque, as way of a generous donation from The Sheppey Local History Society toward the project and to support the trusts ongoing fundraising efforts.

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