SHEERNESS, a sea-port and market town of Eng land, on the Isle of Sheppey and county of Kent, is situated at the mouth of the River Medway.
In order to defend the entrance of this river, a fort was erected at Sheerness in the time of Charles II. In 1667 the works were greatly strengthened, but the Dutch having sent a fleet to the port in 1668, destroy ed the fortifications, and having sailed up the Medway as high as Upnor Castle, did considerable damage to the shipping. This hostile enterprize induced the go vernment to erect a regular fortress, and to mount it with a line of large and heavy cannon. Several small er forts were built at the same time at different parts on the banks of the river, and since that time Sheer ness has been progressively strengthened by new works, and now constitutes a regular garrison, com manded by a governor, lieutenant-governor, and fort major. Adjacent to the fort is the king's yard or dock for repairing vessels, and for building frigates and smaller ships from 40 guns downwards. The chapel is a modern building erected by government for the use of the garrison, but all marriages and burials are performed at Minster.
A number of old line of battle ships have, for a considerable time, been stationed as breakwaters.
They are inhabited by about 80 families, and present a very singular aspect to the stranger, from the chim Dies being raised 38 feet of brick from the lower gun decks.
The chief supply of water having been brought in vessels from Chatham, the garrison and the inhabi tants were often put to great inconvenience from the scarcity of that necessary article. It was resolved, therefore, by the Board of Ordnance in 1781, to sink a well within the fort. After digging to the depth of 323 feet, the auger with which they were boring drop ped down, and the water rushed up with such velocity that the workmen could scarcely be drawn up in time to save them from being drowned. In six hours it rose 189 feet, and in a few days it rested within 8 feet of the top. The supply since that time has never failed. The water is of a pure and soft quality, and its temperature is somewhat higher than that of other wells. Population in 1821, 817, a decrease having taken place from the reduction in docking and ordnance es tablishment. See Hasted's History of Kent, the Beau ties of England and frales, vol. vii. and our article KENT.