One of the architectural wonders of the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, reopened on Tuesday after a major refit.

It’s the No. 3 Covered Slip, which was said to be the largest wide span timber structure in Europe when it was first opened in 1838.

Dockyard Days - The Way We Were - Pictures from the archive

The Dockyard has joined forces with the Royal Engineers Museum, based in Brompton, to restore the building for exhibits.

These will include the railway carriage used by General Kitchener in the Sudan and 'Overlord’, a locomotive used during the D-Day landings.

Dockyard exhibits will include steam hammers, marine engines and a collection of small boats.

The opening was conducted by the chairman of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust Sir Ian Garnett, Major General Mungo Melvin of the Royal Engineers and Mark Wood, chairman of museums, libraries and archives at Medway Council.

Guests were treated to a fanfare and performance from the Band of the Royal Engineers.

For more pictures and full report see Friday's print edition of the Medway Messenger