medway.gov.uk/BoM Medway takes its name from the magnificent This iconic anniversary commemorates one of England’s greatest naval Welkom in Medway river that flows through it and comprises of For the news is tr ue, five towns – Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, disasters when the River Medway was Medway heeft een rijke geschiedenis vol militaire Rainham and Strood. engulfed in flames. In June 1667 the en maritieme tradities en is vernoemd naar that the Dutch have Dutch fleet sailed up the Medway and de gelijknamige, prachtige rivier, die door de caught the English unprepared. This historische steden Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, daring invasion brought the Second Rainham en Strood stroomt. In June 2017 Medway will commemorate brok e the chain and Anglo-Dutch War to an end. Medway ligt ongeveer 50 km van London en Under Lieutenant Admiral Michiel de is gemakkelijk bereikbaar vanaf de Engelse the 350th anniversary of the Battle of bur ned our ships, Ruyter, the Dutch captured the fort at kanaalhavens en Londense vliegvelden. Sheerness before entering the River Medway with a spectacular river event and and par ticular ly the Medway to attack the English fleet In juni 2017 vindt in Medway de 350e herdenking at Chatham. They broke through the van de slag bij Chatham plaats. Deze slag was een Ro yal Char les; defensive chain and, despite fire from van Engelands grootste maritieme nederlagen. a series of exhibitions and activities. Upnor Castle, towed away the Royal In Engeland noemt men dit ’Dutch Raid’, maar Charles, England’s flagship and burned in Nederland staat dit bekend als ‘de slag bij 2 3 Rochester has a unique identity with its iconic Norman other par ticular s I a number of ships. To prevent their Medway’ of ‘de tocht naar Chatham’. In juni 1667 castle and cathedral, historic buildings and museums, capture and block the channel the Royal zeilde de Nederlandse vloot onder leiding van as well as connections with Charles Dickens. Chatham’s know not, but most Navy sank some of its largest ships. luitenant-admiraal Michiel de Ruyter de rivier de maritime history includes The Historic Dockyard Medway op, vernietigde de Engelse vloot die daar Chatham, an award winning attraction and the world’s Although the dockyard was spared by voor anker lag en legde beslag op het Engelse most complete dockyard of the age of sail. sad news to be sure. the arrival of troops and artillery, the vlaggenschip ‘HMS Royal Charles’. The Dockyard’s defences include Upnor Castle, Fort attack was a humiliating defeat for the Samuel Pepys Amherst, the Great Lines Heritage Park and the Royal English. In The Netherlands, the action De herdenking van deze slag wordt gevierd met Engineers Museum, amongst others. Many of these sites is also known as the Battle of Chatham, een spectaculaire show op de rivier de Medway were involved in, or are a result of, the Battle of Medway. the highpoint of the Dutch Golden Age. en er vinden diverse tentoonstellingen en andere activiteiten plaats. The river itself is home to many marinas and yacht clubs The historic naval battle will be re-told as well as interesting historic vessels and river trips. The with a major Medway in Flames event Deze gids geeft u niet alleen informatie over wider estuary provides the perfect habitat for thousands taking place on 17 June 2017 on and deze evenementen, maar ook over de of breeding and migrating birds and wildlife. The area around the River Medway. geschiedenis van Medway. hosts more than 30 days of free festivals and events from bustling street festivals and open air concerts, to theatre performances and international sporting events. Medway’s commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Medway The Dutch are Coming! 10 and 11 June A River Pageant will sail past The Historic Step back in time to 1667 at Upnor Castle Dockyard Chatham and Upnor Castle providing a will be two weeks of exciting and unique events. with living history events and activities telling unique opportunity for boat owners, visitors and Here is a taste of what you can expect to see. the story of the Dutch Raid. river users to show off their wonderful vessels. The Historic Dockyard Chatham – 8 June Medway Sports Festival – 17 June Chatham Maritime – 10 June Water activities will take place in Basin 2 The official launch to the commemorations* and A varied sporting events programme A variety of activities and entertainment including dragon boat racing, rowing displays, fly the opening of the dockyard’s new exhibition. culminating in a spectular Amsterdam to taking place around Dutch and British warships. boarding and jet ski displays. Live English and Dutch folk music, walkabout entertainment Medway Print Festival – 2 to 27 June Medway Bike Ride. Rochester Cathedral – 17 June and clog dancing performances will run An art exhibition that spreads across the Experience a fascinating guided tour around Dickens Festival – 9 to11 June throughout the evening. Medway Visitor Information Centre, Guildhall Celebrating the life and work of Charles England’s second oldest cathedral. Museum, Rochester Cathedral and other venues. Dickens. Enjoy street entertainment, parades, Medway in Flames – 17 June Turn to pages 8 and 9 to find out more about Medway Libraries – 7 to17 June readings, competitions and much more. Chatham Maritime comes alive with a the Medway in Flames spectacular river finale. Look out for an exciting programme programme of family entertainment including of events and lectures in our a fun fair, and food, drink and trade stalls. *Please note, the official civic launch is by invite only. community hubs and libraries. 4 5 More than 30 days of free festivals and events each year In addition to our exciting programme of events Medway is telling the different stories of the battle at many of our heritage sites, highlights include: The Historic Dockyard Chatham Upnor Castle Guildhall Museum Jetstream Tours – River Trips and Water Transport the most complete dockyard from the High Street, Upper Upnor, ME2 4XG High Street, Rochester, ME1 1PY jetstreamtours.com age of sail anywhere in the world 01634 718742 01634 332900 Jetstream Tours operates regular boat trips from Rochester Pier, but during the Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TZ visitmedway.org visitmedway.org Battle of Medway festival will offer an additional pier stop for Upnor Castle. 01634 823800 This attractive turreted fortress, built to protect Built in 1687, the Guildhall is one of the finest This is a great way to get around Medway and a chance to discover the thedockyard.co.uk Queen Elizabeth’s warships when anchored 17th century civic buildings in Kent. Colourful river’s strategic fortifications. All cruises offer an informative From 8 June to 3 September 2017 The Historic in the Medway, is set in a picturesque village, and informative displays record more than commentary with a spectacular opportunity to see Upnor Castle Dockyard celebrates the 350th anniversary backed by rolling wooded hills on the banks of 250,000 years of Medway history. Visitors can and The Historic Dockyard Chatham from the water. of the seismic events of 1667 by presenting the River Medway. Its importance matched see what life was like during the Napoleonic Hop-on hop-off opportunities with local river taxis will Breaking the Chain, a once in a life time the growth of the dockyard in Chatham. The period by walking through a reconstruction also be available along with Jetstream’s high chance to see the Battle of Medway story told castle played an important, but ultimately of a Medway prison hulk and learn about the speed Jetboat services from Sun Pier. through art. The exhibition shows wonderful ineffective role in June 1667, when Admiral terrible living conditions the prisoners endured. Dutch and British contemporary art, literature, De Ruyter sailed his ships up the Medway to They can learn about the life and works of historic manuscripts and extraordinary objects attack the dockyard. Charles Dickens, one of England’s greatest drawn from collections at The Royal Museum 6 novelists, in the Dickens’ Discovery Rooms. 7 Greenwich, Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the To commemorate the Battle of Medway, Upnor Dutch National Maritime Museum, the Michiel Castle will be home to a new and exciting The Guildhall Museum will present a special de Ruyter Foundation and the British Library. visual display, putting the events of 1667 into exhibition of their collection of historic Dutch context. This interpretation will allow visitors prints and maps that are part of this story. To tell the story of The Historic Dockyard to learn about the daring Dutch masterplan They will be displayed alongside the plans Chatham is to tell of how one nation that led to a devastating naval defeat for of the fortifications built by the English to launched the world’s greatest naval power for England, and the resulting programme of defend Sheerness and Chatham in the wake of generations to come. It is also a place that ship-building that led to a golden age of this unprecedented naval disaster. Acclaimed tells the story of one of Britain’s greatest naval British maritime supremacy. artist Kevin Clarkson has painted a series of disasters! A story of Dutch daring that left the meticulously researched images of the Battle Medway in flames, the capture of the English (one of which is shown on our front cover), flag ship and a nation licking its wounds. and these will give a vivid recreation of the The Historic Dockyard Chatham offers dramatic events of the day. The exhibition will unrivalled access to the ships that shaped the run from 6 May to 12 November 2017. world, and the stories of the people who made them.