You may be interested to learn that the oldest surviving building in the Dockyard - the Porters Lodge at Victory Gate has just been converted into offices and thus has a new lease of life. Built in 1708, it is located at the main entrance to the Dockyard. The history is that back in the 1700's, two porters lived there - William WOODROW from 1739 to 1780 and Thomas BUTLER from 1780 to 1800. The porters role was to guard the Dockyard boundaries and propert. They marked the working hours by ringing the muster bell and closing the gate against latecomers. To prevent excessive theft of timber, they also allowed "no person to pass ou of the Dock Gates with great coats, large trousers or any other outer dress that can conceal stores of any kind". The porter also sold beer to the men "to enable them the better to carry on their labour and not to distemper them" Take care Linda & Tony