Brunel Sawmill Engine Room
Until 1814, timber was cut in Chatham Dockyard by pairs of sawyers working in sawpits located through the site. Squaring timber and cutting planks for decks and ship's sides was back-breaking repetitive work, and readily identified for mechanisation.
In 1812 construction commenced on a steam-powered sawmill designed by Marc Brunel (father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel) assisted by Jeremy Bentham and Edward Holl. The sawmill was completed in 1814 and included a series of reciprocating sawing-machines and a mechanical timber transport system linked to the dockyard's mast ponds by an underground canal.
Historic England records that this Grade I listed structure is made of brick with stone dressings and a hipped slate and corrugated-iron valley roof. At the south end of the sawmill in the engine house which has a notably-large battered (receding) square chimney in three stepped stages, each with sunken panels divided by ashlar bands, clasping buttresses to the base and a round opening extending through. A domed iron pressure vessel can be seen in front of the chimney. Tall, narrow former offices attached to the engine house have round-arched windows with 20th century casements and flat-headed 12-pane second-floor windows with similar windows to those found at the northern end of the sawmill.
Brunel Sawmill Engine Room
Until 1814, timber was cut in Chatham Dockyard by pairs of sawyers working in sawpits located through the site. Squaring timber and cutting planks for decks and ship's sides was back-breaking repetitive work, and readily identified for mechanisation.
In 1812 construction commenced on a steam-powered sawmill designed by Marc Brunel (father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel) assisted by Jeremy Bentham and Edward Holl. The sawmill was completed in 1814 and included a series of reciprocating sawing-machines and a mechanical timber transport system linked to the dockyard's mast ponds by an underground canal.
Historic England records that this Grade I listed structure is made of brick with stone dressings and a hipped slate and corrugated-iron valley roof. At the south end of the sawmill in the engine house which has a notably-large battered (receding) square chimney in three stepped stages, each with sunken panels divided by ashlar bands, clasping buttresses to the base and a round opening extending through. A domed iron pressure vessel can be seen in front of the chimney. Tall, narrow former offices attached to the engine house have round-arched windows with 20th century casements and flat-headed 12-pane second-floor windows with similar windows to those found at the northern end of the sawmill.