The Lenox Project team had a very enjoyable and productive day out at Nunhead Cemetery open day, despite sharp showers making it a little damp at time. We had our Saker Cannon and exhibition trailer alongside the stall, which drew plenty of attention from visitors.

In between the rain, however, we enjoyed meeting lots of new faces and catching up with some of our long-term supporters.

We were delighted to have Dulwich Folk Choir sing a few sea shanties alongside our stall after their performance in the old chapel.

It was also a great opportunity to meet representatives of other community groups and organisations, and to see Francis Chappell’s magnificent horse-drawn hearse put through its paces.

Thanks to everyone who came along – if you signed our mailing list you’ll be receiving our next newsletter in the coming weeks; and as always, thank you very much to anyone who donated cash or purchased merchandise – your support, whether financial or otherwise, is invaluable to us.

The Battle of Medway, also known as ‘The Dutch Raid’, and in Holland ‘Tocht naar Chatham’ (The Battle of Chatham) – when the River Medway was engulfed in flames – marked one of the greatest disasters in England’s naval history. It was also the event that prompted the investment that funded development of the new English naval fleet, the first of which to be built was the Lenox!

In June 1667, the Dutch fleet sailed up the River Medway and caught the English unprepared. This daring invasion brought the Second Anglo-Dutch War to an end.
Under Lieutenant Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, the Dutch captured the fort at Sheerness before entering the River Medway to attack the English fleet at Chatham. They broke through the defensive chain and, despite fire from Upnor Castle, towed away the Royal Charles, England’s flagship and burned a number of ships. To prevent their capture and block the channel, the Royal Navy sank around 30 of its largest ships.

Although the dockyard was spared by the arrival of troops and artillery, the attack was nevertheless a humiliating defeat for the English. In Holland, the action marked the highpoint of the Dutch Golden Age.

Despite proving to be a crushing loss for the English, the Dutch Raid heralded the start of a period of great financial investment in the English naval fleet and as a result, led to it becoming the most powerful in the world, for generations to come.

Find out more about the events that are planned on Medway Council’s website 

The Lenox Project team will be present at the Nunhead Cemetery open day on Saturday 20th May from 11am till 5pm – why not come along and meet us and find out more about the project?

The open day, which is organised by the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery is also a great opportunity to visit one of London’s least-known cemetery and to have a guided tour of the crypt, which is rarely open to the public.

There are demonstrations, performances and tours throughout the day, and lots of stalls run by local organisations and charities such as our own. Homemade refreshments are on sale and entry to the cemetery is free.