30 cwt Steam Hammer
Anchors were made by a process known as forging. Iron bars, heated in a furnace, were joined together and hammered into shape by anchor smiths.
At Chatham Dockyard (above), No. 1 Smithery's first hammers were hand-powered. Steam hammers, first developed during the 1840s, were quickly introduced, enabling larger anchors and other metal items to be forged in the Smithery.
This single-pedestal "Cochrane" steam hammer, manufactured by B&S Massey of Manchester, was installed during the 1950s for light forging. Today it is displayed in the open space between the Smithery and the Covered Slips which are partially visible to the left.
The work of the anchor smiths was amongst the most demanding in the dockyard. Working in conditions of great heat and humidity, the trade was unpopular and the dockyard had to search the entire country to find men willing to work under those conditions. In recognition of their longer working day and the hard labour involved, the smiths were the highest-paid artisans in the yard. In addition, they were allowed eight pints (4.5 litres) of strong beer a day from a special beer cellar in the building!
During the 20th century, most of the dockyard's machine tools were painted in the light green colour seen above.
30 cwt Steam Hammer
Anchors were made by a process known as forging. Iron bars, heated in a furnace, were joined together and hammered into shape by anchor smiths.
At Chatham Dockyard (above), No. 1 Smithery's first hammers were hand-powered. Steam hammers, first developed during the 1840s, were quickly introduced, enabling larger anchors and other metal items to be forged in the Smithery.
This single-pedestal "Cochrane" steam hammer, manufactured by B&S Massey of Manchester, was installed during the 1950s for light forging. Today it is displayed in the open space between the Smithery and the Covered Slips which are partially visible to the left.
The work of the anchor smiths was amongst the most demanding in the dockyard. Working in conditions of great heat and humidity, the trade was unpopular and the dockyard had to search the entire country to find men willing to work under those conditions. In recognition of their longer working day and the hard labour involved, the smiths were the highest-paid artisans in the yard. In addition, they were allowed eight pints (4.5 litres) of strong beer a day from a special beer cellar in the building!
During the 20th century, most of the dockyard's machine tools were painted in the light green colour seen above.