Construction Project

The transformation of the Police Section House at Docking Station is not just a construction project. It is a careful act of preservation, storytelling and respect for a building that has stood as a quiet witness to the life of The Historic Dockyard Chatham for generations.

From the very beginning, the ambition has been clear: restore the building in a way that protects its character while ensuring it can serve a meaningful purpose for the future. That balance, between conservation and reinvention, sits at the heart of every decision made on site.

The Police Section House represents the working lives of the Dockyard Police and the rhythms of a place that once played a vital role in Britain’s maritime history. Preserving that legacy has meant going far beyond physical restoration.

All of this work feeds into a wider vision. The restored Police Section House will not simply be a building to look at, it will be a place where history is actively experienced. The stories gathered, the digital records created and the artefacts preserved will all contribute to how the space is understood and used in the future.  

The physical restoration of the building has been approached with great care. Original features have been retained wherever possible, adapted to meet new needs and restored to their former glory ensuring that the character of the building is retained. The adaptation of the central staircase has been a major piece of work and has involved moving a whole flight of stairs to increase head room, removing an awkward winder, raising the height of the ballustrades and cutting in new oak with curved swan necks to create a seamless and safe handrail to the 2nd floor. All original sash windows have been carefully restored to full functionality and secondary glazed internally to provide excellent acoustic and environmental performance.  

Other modern interventions such as opening up some internal spaces, structural reinforcement, new mechanical and electrical services, insulation and acoustic treatment have been sensitively integrated so that the building can meet the needs of modern workspace without losing its identity.    

This approach reflects a broader philosophy underpinning Docking Station as a whole. It is about honouring what came before while creating something that serves today’s creative community. It is about continuity rather than replacement.

As the project moves closer to completion, the Police Section House stands as a powerful example of what thoughtful heritage preservation can achieve. It shows that with the right balance of technology, community engagement and respect for history, it is possible to protect the past while giving it new life.

And in doing so, it ensures that the stories of the Dockyard Police, and the building they once called home, are not only remembered but carried forward into the future.

All interventions have been designed in collaboration with Historic England and have secured Scheduled Monument Consent and Listed Building Consent as required.