CHARTING THE FUTURE
A 10-year strategy for Chatham
Historic Dockyard Trust
“…under
this bridge the Medway foams and rolls with great violence and rapidity, and presently abating both, forms a dock finished for the finest fleet the sun ever beheld…”
CHARTING THE FUTURE
A 10-year strategy for Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust
William Camden, Britannia, 16th Century
‘To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, This View of the Royal Dockyard of Chatham is by Permission and with all Humility Inscribed by His Majesty’s Most Dutiful Subject and Servant, R. Paton’. Painted by R. Paton, figures by J. Mortimer, engraving by P.C. Camet.
“The Historic Dockyard Chatham is more than a museum, it is a place of inspiration, a centre for enterprise, a cultural anchor for Medway and Kent, and a proud symbol of our maritime past.”
The
FOREWORD
It is a privilege and a pleasure to introduce this 10-year strategy for Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust; a place that holds such extraordinary historical, cultural and economic significance for Kent, Medway, and indeed, the nation.
The Dockyard’s past is steeped in heritage, having played a critical role in shaping Britain’s naval history for more than four centuries. Yet it is not the past alone that defines this remarkable site.
Since the closure of the Royal Dockyard in 1984, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust has shown exceptional vision and determination in transforming this site into a living, breathing example of how heritage can be preserved through purposeful reuse.
Over the last four decades, the Trust has become a beacon of excellence in heritage management, financial resilience and community engagement. It has demonstrated how the threads of history, when woven with innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, can create something both enduring and forward-looking. The achievements of the past 10 years, from the restoration of the Fitted Rigging House, the creation of the award-winning Command of the Oceans galleries and the growth of the Trust’s role as a regional and national leader in the heritage sector, are testament to this.
This new strategy sets out a compelling and ambitious course for the next decade.
It balances the imperative to preserve the historic environment with the equally vital need to remain financially secure, inclusive and relevant in a changing world.
I am especially heartened to see a strong focus on community, lifelong learning, sustainability, and access for all, values that reflect the very best of Kent’s spirit and future.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is more than a museum. It is a place of inspiration, a centre for enterprise, a cultural anchor for Medway and Kent, and a proud symbol of our maritime past. It connects past and present with a sense of purpose and pride that resonates across generations.
As His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, I am immensely proud of the work undertaken by the Trust, its staff and volunteers, and of the support shown by the many partners and stakeholders who share in its mission. I commend this strategy as a bold and thoughtful roadmap, one that will ensure that The Historic Dockyard Chatham continues to educate, engage and inspire for generations to come.
The Lady Colgrain, Lord-Lieutenant of Kent and Vice Patron, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust
Lady Colgrain, Lord-Lieutenant of Kent
WHO WE ARE
The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, is a registered charity set up in 1984 following the closure of the Royal Dockyard at Chatham, marking the end of over 400 years of shipbuilding on the River Medway.
For over four centuries, the Dockyard has been at the heart of Medway’s community, and this remains the case today. In the 40 years following its closure, we have played a key role in the wider regeneration of Medway addressing the significant economic challenges brought about by the Dockyard’s closure. Today, The Historic Dockyard Chatham is an exemplar in heritage re-use and unique within the industrial heritage sector.
As a registered charity, our purpose is set out as:
PRESERVATION
To set the benchmark in maintaining excellence in the sympathetic preservation and use of the Historic Dockyard, its buildings, ships and collections through diverse re-use. Excellence in management of the heritage environment and building use will remain essential in preserving the unique, award-winning, historic character of the site.
LEARNING
To engage the widest audiences in learning about the significance and role of the former Royal Dockyard at Chatham and its people in supporting the Royal Navy from sail to steam to nuclear power over a 400year period.
160,000
12,000
400
We attract upwards of 160,000 visitors every year
We welcome over 12,000 children and young people annually through our learning programme
We are home to over 400 residents
190
We accommodate over 190 business tenants
100
We preserve over 100 uniquely significant buildings and structures across our 80-acre estate
CHARTING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Over the past decade, our strategic direction has been guided by successive five-year corporate plans.
The most recent of these plans, published in March 2020, had a specific focus on achieving financial sustainability through the completion of the Fitted Rigging House Project.
However, just weeks after its release, the operating environment was fundamentally disrupted by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this unprecedented challenge, we reviewed and re-published the corporate plan in 2021 to reflect the realities of a changed world and adapt our priorities accordingly.
Looking ahead, we have taken the decision to move away from this short-term planning cycle and adopt a longer-term strategic approach. For the first time, we are developing a high-level 10-year strategic plan, which will be supported by a rolling programme of three detailed business plans. This shift in approach builds on the significant progress made over the past 10 years.
Looking back over the period 20152025, much has been achieved in the furtherance of delivering our charitable objectives with some significant achievements including:
Development of a diversified business model which has enabled us to adjust to the withdrawal of core Central Government support through self-generating vital charitable revenue to deliver our charitable purpose.
Increasing the use of the estate’s heritage assets, now generating in excess of £3.7m per annum in sustainable property derived revenue, whilst retaining a balance with the diverse site uses.
The Fitted Rigging House has been brought into full productive re-use, generating vital property revenue whilst improving the visitor experience through our 19th & 20th Century gallery, a revised library and reading room, and enhancing our volunteer work and rest facilities.
Pre-pandemic, we grew visitation up to 190,000 visitors per annum. In 2024 visitation stood at c.150,000.
The opening of the award-winning Command of the Oceans gallery in 2016, transformed the arrival to the Dockyard, with outstanding galleries telling the story of the Dockyard during the Age of Sail, and how Chatham Dockyard and its people shaped Britain’s worldwide influence.
We raised our profile on a national scale through internationally significant events such as the Battle of Medway, Festival 400 celebrations, Armed Forces Day and Dockyard 40.
Economic impact to the wider Medway and Kent area has increased to an estimated £28m per annum, supporting 600 full time equivalent jobs.
We maintained our Accredited Museum status and have become an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), leading a consortium of Kent museums to recognise best practice in visitor experience and education in the region.
A commercial approach to the management of operations within the Ropery continues to support the inherent costs of maintaining and operating a Georgian Ropewalk for the enjoyment and education of visitors.
The Dockyard continues to be a major film location contributing significant income and broader profile and recognition, including a partnership with Neal Street Productions which has seen the launch of the Call the Midwife Official Location Tour.
EXCELLENT GOVERNANCE
We are committed to excellent governance and continue to undertake regular reviews of our structures and policies.
The Trustees have set this 10 year strategy and will hold the Executive to account for delivery against it and specific operational plans. In a complex operating environment, the breadth of experience required from Trustees to ensure that obligations are met is extensive.
This strategy has been developed by our Board of Trustees in close association with the Executive and the whole team (both staff and volunteers) at the Historic Dockyard. It is published at a time that follows a period of considerable investment in our unique historic site and at a pivotal point in the Trust’s future as we adjust to the withdrawal of regular Government support after many years.
SECTOR
LEADERSHIP
We recognise the responsibilities that come from the investment of considerable sums of public funding, including that of National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England with regard to sharing knowledge, experience and understanding with the wider arts, heritage and museum sectors.
We therefore support and encourage our staff, particularly the Executive, to play an active role in sector leadership and national, regional, and local bodies and organisations. These organisations include Visit Kent, Medway Place Board, Medway Cultural Education Partnership, and Kent and Medway Museum Partnership. We also seek to support wider strategic initiatives across the region including Arts Council England’s Priority Place and National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Place initiative.
Since 2018 we have led a four-partner Kent museumbased Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). The consortium of four museums – The Historic Dockyard Chatham (lead partner), Canterbury Museums & Galleries, Guildhall Museum Rochester, and Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery - work together to deliver excellence in the use of collections and to inspire learning, engagement and wellbeing to existing and new audiences across Kent and Medway. We will seek to continue our partnership with existing museum partners and to build on the outstanding work already achieved and in doing so continue to support the wider museum community in Kent and Medway.
“A
WORLD LEADING MARITIME HERITAGE DESTINATION” OUR VISION
For over 400 years, Chatham Dockyard has defined the wider development of the Medway Towns and has been the beating heart of its community.
40 years on from its formal closure, our aim is for The Historic Dockyard Chatham to uphold our pioneering strategy of ‘Preservation through Reuse,’ utilising our heritage assets to deliver both charitable impact and sustainable income generation to achieve this vision. We will do this by understanding and responding to the needs of our audiences and continuing to preserve the most complete Dockyard of the Age of Sail, recognising that our resilience and sustainability are keys to unlocking our success in the future.
OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Our 10-year strategy is founded on three core strategic objectives that are designed to move us towards the delivery of our vision. They have been developed by our Board of Trustees in collaboration with our staff and volunteers.
This strategy aims to balance our core charitable objectives with our desire to embed the Historic Dockyard into the heart of the community and will be delivered through a series of consecutive business plans that focus on clear goals and key performance indicators.
A critical foundation of these objectives is our need to sustain our financial resilience and ensure a transparent and accountable approach to our work. To deliver our strategic objectives we recognise that our people are key to the impact we make. Developing our people and encouraging an entrepreneurial approach will be essential to achieving our ambitions.
Excellent governance and leadership, supported by strong relationships with our key stakeholders will support our delivery. Equally, this strategy reflects a strong commitment to continuous improvement and delivering impact and quality across everything that we do.
This 10-year strategy will be supported by a series of detailed business plans outlining how we intend to achieve these objectives.
AUDIENCE – PUTTING OUR AUDIENCES FIRST
Our audiences are crucial to our learning charitable objective. Over 40 years, we have cultivated diverse audiences. Looking ahead to the next decade, we aim to engage locally, nationally, and internationally. We will innovate and personalise our approach to better connect with priority audiences identified through detailed segmentation. These priorities may shift with external changes and evolving narratives.
Key to our success is identifying priority audiences and adapting our museum experience and interpretation methods to meet their needs, while remaining flexible as these priorities change.
IN SETTING OUT TO ACHIEVE THE AUDIENCE OBJECTIVE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THREE CLEAR GOALS:
To support the delivery of these three goals, we will undertake a number of key projects which include:
DEVELOPMENT OF A MUSEUM STRATEGY
A new 10-year plan to evolve our museum and tell our wider story. We will create greater connections with stories and the people represented in our collections. Our goal is to create a more human-centric museum experience that resonates with diverse audiences utilising a wide range of interpretation methods, including physical, interactive and digital tools, to enhance our 400year story in a more coherent and balanced way.
GROWING OUR AUDIENCES
We will focus on addressing awareness challenges to grow visitation. Leading this process will be the development of a new marketing strategy specifically designed to engage and attract audiences most likely to respond to our story and enjoy our experiences.
Shaping the narrative, content, programme, experience and marketing to engage our priority audiences
Enhancing the wider Historic Dockyard site incorporating experiential elements that attract priority audiences
Building our reputation as an authoritative voice within the heritage sector
DEVELOP EXPERIENCES
Building on our ambition to grow audiences, we will create a range of marketable experiences to target audiences who do not typically engage with our core offer, without alienating our existing visitors. This will include a full review of our current major events and exhibitions programme and the development of more immersive play for younger visitors.
ENHANCING OUR HISTORIC SHIPS
Our ships are a key method of interpretation for our story. We aim to enhance the experience upon all three of our historic ships, with a key focus on HMS GANNET within the next 5 years.
IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF MUSEUM OPERATIONS
We will evaluate and evolve our operational footprint, bringing about greater zoning of the visitor Dockyard and delivering efficiency within the operating model.
DEVELOP LIFELONG LEARNING
Building on the success of our lifelong learning programmes, we will review our current work with schools, Further and Higher education providers and ensure that we deliver the maximum learning impact possible through efficient service delivery and gallery redevelopment.
IMPROVING COLLECTIONS CARE
Our collections are the key to unlocking the rich and diverse stories of the Dockyard. Through enhanced access to our collections, we will deepen the understanding of our story, better utilise our objects to share that story with a wide range of audiences, and enhancing digital and physical access to our collections and archive.
EMBEDDING OUR STORY WITHIN MEDWAY’S COMMUNITY
The Dockyard has been at the heart of the Medway Town’s for over 400 years, and we remain committed to engaging with our local community, both inside and outside the Dockyard walls, ensuring that we remain a relevant and valued resource for our community.
PRESERVATION –THROUGH REUSE
The concept of “Preservation through Reuse” has been a guiding principle for our organisation for many years and remains as relevant today as it was in 1984. Maximising and boldly taking opportunities as well as finding sustainable, innovative and appropriate re-uses for our heritage assets, we will unlock the potential for both delivering charitable impact and improving our financial sustainability.
IN SETTING OUT TO ACHIEVE THE PRESERVATION OBJECTIVE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED FOUR CLEAR GOALS:
Preserving The Historic Dockyard Chatham through the diverse re-use of the historic estate, maximising the potential of the Northern Dockyard and boldly taking advantage of opportunities across our estate
Maintaining heritage skills including ropemaking, adaptive re-use and wider development of apprenticeships
Improving our accessibility for a diverse range of people and communities
Adapting the historic estate to respond to a changing climate
To support the delivery of these four goals, we will undertake a number of activities which include:
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW ESTATE STRATEGY
We will identify and take advantage of development opportunities which exist across our historic estate, both optimising estate utilisation and seeking sustainable re-uses for underutilised buildings as well as supporting the wider placemaking of the Historic Dockyard.
ENGAGEMENT AND CULTIVATION OF CULTURAL INDUSTRIES
Collaborating with key delivery partners and the opportunity presented by the development of Docking Station (opening 2026) we will engage with the wider cultural and screen industries within Kent and Medway to develop amazing creative spaces where people work, live, learn and visit.
NORTHERN DOCKYARD ESTATE
Led by the development of Docking Station within the Police Section House, we will maximise the opportunities which exist for the development of the Northern Dockyard estate. Working to ensure that it enhances the setting of the Historic Dockyard and make best use of our estate assets.
ADAPTATION TO A CHANGING CLIMATE
In response to the global climate crisis, we will adapt our operations and buildings to best meet the needs of a sustainable world. By embracing new technology where appropriate and changing the way we work, we aim to make our site more environmentally sustainable.
PRESERVING SKILLS
The preservation of heritage skills is important, not only to us but to the wider heritage sector. We will continue to invest in ensuring traditional skills including ropemaking, historic ship repair and historic building preservation remain a core function within our organisation, with opportunities for individuals to develop careers in this area.
ANIMATION OF THE DOCKYARD SITE
The Dockyard was always a living and breathing estate, and we intend to improve how our site is animated by utilising our historic railway and other heritage collection assets.
ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY
One of our challenges to accessibility revolves around physical access and public transport links. We aim to explore ways to make the site more physically accessible, including opening an additional entrance to the Historic Dockyard site for visitors via the existing Main Gate on Dock Road.
RESILIENCE –ENSURE A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Since the Trust’s creation in 1984, financial resilience has been a defining factor in our success. Guided by a strategy of “Preservation through Reuse”, we successfully adjusted to the withdrawal of Government funding in 2024. Looking ahead, our future growth and ability to deliver against our charitable objectives hinges on resilience and this is reflected within this strategic objective.
We recognise the cultural and economic significance of the site today and will continue to play an active role in the wider development and regeneration of Medway. We believe the keys to our longer-term resilience are through the wider development of our property portfolio, growing audiences, creating innovative income generating experiences, and continuing to develop links with cultural and creative industries.
IN SETTING OUT TO ACHIEVE THE RESILIENCE OBJECTIVE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THREE CLEAR GOALS:
Strengthening our financial model through the development of our three key strategic objectives to underpin charitable purpose, sustainability and longterm success
Leading through strategic partnerships, we will work as an influential partner, building strong relationships with key stakeholders – local leadership, universities, cultural organisations, and government bodies - to drive impactful change
Preserving local identity and connection –reinforcing the Dockyard’s vital role in Medway’s past whilst staying relevant in a changing society, engaging communities that reflect the Dockyard’s past, present and future potential
To support the delivery of these three goals, we will undertake a number of activities which include:
MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL PLANNING
Responding to an ever-changing economic environment, we will plan our growth and development in multi-year phases with particular focus placed on efficiency, income generation, pricing structures and operational procedures.
ENTREPRENEURIAL TRADING ACTIVITY
Enhancing and creating income generation activities (including commercial tenancy, film location hire, catering, retail, and commercial rope sales) to grow commercial revenue to aid delivery against charitable objectives.
DELIVERING HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE
With the completion of the project to preserve The Commissioner’s House (opening summer 2026), we will transform our hospitality operation, deriving greater financial benefit to aid delivery against our charitable objectives.
FUNDRAISING STRATEGY
Implement a robust fundraising and corporate sponsorship model that helps secure financial stability, supporting strategic initiatives.
STRENGTHENING OUR RELATIONSHIPS AS AN INFLUENTIAL PARTNER
Actively engaging with strategic partners in heritage, placemaking, economic and cultural development, tourism, and education.
ENGAGING THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
Support the wider development of Medway and our communities, including through investment opportunities for the region such as Heritage Place (delivered through the National Lottery Heritage Fund).
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Recognising the growing cluster of creative organisations based on the Dockyard estate, we will cultivate and further develop the role cultural and creative industries play within the local economy including the further development of our links with the screen industries.
PRESERVING LOCAL IDENTITY AND CONNECTION
Reinforce the Dockyard’s vital role in Medway’s past whilst staying relevant in a changing society, engaging communities that reflect the Dockyard’s past, present and future potential.
ENHANCING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Recognising our unique connection with Medway, we will develop a robust strategy to engage with our diverse communities, adding social value and impact utilising the site that played such a key role in the development of the wider Medway Towns over the last 400 years.
OUR CORE PRINCIPLES
In developing our strategic objectives, we have carefully considered a range of cross-cutting principles which will shape the way we work over the next 10 years and beyond. These principles weave through everything that we do and are the lens through which we view our work.
An organisation which is transparent and accountable
Delivering impact within our place and community An organisation which is transparent and accountable
Taking positive action to reduce our environmental impact Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the heart of everything A place which puts people first
Delivering quality with all that we do
OUR VALUES
Our values guide the way we work and embody the spirit of everyone who works at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
Our values are:
EVERYONE
We are for everyone. The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a place for everyone and we have a key role in making the Dockyard accessible and welcoming to everybody, however people choose to engage with us.
PASSION
We are driven by passion. Passion has driven success within the Dockyard walls for over 400 years and will continue to be the driving force in achieving excellence in everything we do going into the future.
HERITAGE
We care about our history, heritage and stories. The history and heritage of the Dockyard is unique and special to everyone that we work with and we are committed to passing these stories on. We are the most complete Dockyard of the Age of Sail in the world and we are proud of the story we tell today and the stories we will tell in the future through heritage preserved for future generations.
OUR CULTURE NAVIGATING THE FUTURE
Our organisational culture is underpinned by our values and our core principles. Our culture is shaped by the people who work and volunteer at the Historic Dockyard, making it the place it is today.
The statements below capture how our people feel about the Historic Dockyard and its significance in their lives:
We create space for creativity and solutions – improving on previous experience Customer Focus
We deliver amazing experiences for everyone Fun
We have passion and enjoy what we do
Teamwork
We are one team that succeed together
- OUR COURSE AHEAD
We are committed to preserving the past whilst embracing the future.
Our long-term vision - rooted in preservation, learning, and financial resilience ensures that this internationally renowned historic site remains a dynamic and thriving landmark for generations to come. We are committed to preserving the past while embracing the future and delivering against our vision to make The Historic Dockyard Chatham a world leading maritime heritage destination.
Through the delivery of our three strategic objectives, we will collectively work towards achieving this vision. As a team, our values and culture will steer and guide our direction and the decisions that we take as an organisation.
We recognise that we can’t do this alone and look forward to working with a wide range of strategic partners over the course of the coming 10 years to collectively realise this vision.
We are proud of the rich history and heritage of The Historic Dockyard Chatham and our legacy will ensure that this incredible place will remain as the most complete Dockyard of the Age of Sail in the world, captivating audiences with stories of innovation, bravery and heroism that are accessible to all. Innovation
Excellence
We strive to be the best at everything we do
REGISTERED OFFICE
1st Floor North
Fitted Rigging House
The Historic Dockyard Chatham Kent
ME4 4TZ
Tel: 01634 823800
Email: info@chdt.org.uk thedockyard.co.uk
The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is a registered charity (Charity No. 292101) and registered company (Company No. 01804108).
The Trust is a Fully Accredited Museum.