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Medway will be “in flames” to mark the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Medway.
Medway will welcome visitors from far and wide as the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Medway is commemorated through a fortnight of events including spectacular displays, one off exhibitions and VIP visits from Thursday, June 8, to Saturday, June 17.
The battle in June 1667 led to a huge investment in new ships and dockyard facilities, laying the foundations of British supremacy at sea for the next 200 years and contributing to the country’s economic success and the growth on the empire.
Commemoration events include Battle of Medway gallery at Upnor Castle, funded by Heritage Lottery, and a one off exhibition at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard which will explore the battle through contemporary accounts and items of significance borrowed from Dutch and UK national museums.
The Command of the Oceans galleries will also highlight the major investment in new ships and Dockyard facilities as a result of the battle.
The final event, Medway in Flames, will be held at the battle site on the River Medway at Chatham, overlooked by Upnor Castle and the Dockyard, on June 17.
Expect water screens, projections, characters, pyrotechnics, special effects and fireworks at the finale.
The events will not only remember what happened during the battle, but will highlight the relationship and growing connections between the Dutch and English. The Dutch will also celebrate the anniversary of the battle, or Tocht naar Chatham (Journey to Chatham), during the week commencing June 19.
Cllr Alan Jarrett, leader of Medway Council, said: “You do not want to miss out on the events in Medway in summer 2017.
"It’s important that we remember the history on our door step and we want to welcome visitors to Medway to learn, share and be enthused by a large but often forgotten part of English history.
"We want to share the two-week experience and our dramatic finale event with both local people and visitors from further afield.
“We’ve been very fortunate to receive Heritage Lottery Funding to help us celebrate this important anniversary with a new gallery at Upnor Castle.”
Richard Holdsworth, preservation and education director at Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust said: “The events of June 1667 marked a significant moment in our national story and we are delighted at this opportunity to take part in the celebrations and display extraordinary objects from the period held in Dutch and British national collections.
“Visitors will also be able to enjoy our Command of the Oceans galleries telling the complete dockyard story from the period and the role it and the people of Chatham played during this and other important events in British and world history. It’s going to be quite a year.”
All of the events have been organised by Medway Council and Chatham’s Historic Dockyard.
