MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix)'s photos with the keyword: ropehouse

Part of the Ropery complex.

The round, black metal thing on the right is called the traveler. As the rope is wound, the traveler moves down the tracks as the rope shortens.

I didn't know it at the time I was there, but the Historic Dockyard is used for many of the exterior locations in Call the Midwife. I think the midwives ride their bicycles over these cobbles at the beginning of each episode. I'd really love to go back to the Dockyard for one of their Call the Midwife tours.

Near the Ropery, Historic Dockyard, Chatham.

These wooden things are called tops. The ropehouse is 1/4 mile long. They've been making rope here in essentially the same way for 400 years. Wikipedia says, "The Double Rope House has spinning on the upper floors and ropemaking ( a ropewalk) on the ground floor. It is 346 m (1135 ft) long, and when constructed was the longest brickbuilt building in Europe capable of laying a 1,000 ft (300 m) rope. Over 200 men were required before 1836, to make and lay a 20in (circumference) cable. All was done by hand. Steam power in the form of a beam engine was introduced in 1836, and then electricity in the early 1900s."