Britain's naval power is exemplified at home by the remains of the three great naval bases at Chatham, Portsmouth and Devonport. All centred on a dockyard around which were ancillary features. All three places were increasingly heavily defended against enemy attack. The best overall survivor is Chatham and it is recommended that the naval base at Chatham, including its defences and the associated headquarters of the Royal Engineers should be put on the Tentative List.
The dockyard contained all the facilities necessary to build, repair, maintain and equip ships of the fleet, and was supplemented by facilities for the Ordnance Board, reponsible for the supply of guns, ammunition and powder to the navy and army. The proposed World Heritage Site focuses on the 18th and early 19th century dockyard which was not redeveloped in the 19th century and was spared heavy bombing in 1939-45.