YARDS also denote places belonging to the navy, where the ships of war, &c. are laid up in harbour. There are, belonging to his majesty's navy, six great yards, viz. Chatham, Deptford, Woolwich, Portsmouth, Sheerness, and Plymouth: these yards are fitted with several docks, wharfs, lanches, and graving places for the building, repairing, and cleaning of his majesty's ships; and therein are lodged great quantities of timber, masts, planks, anchors, and other materials: there are also convenient store-houses in each yard, in which are laid up vast quantities of cables, rigging, falls, blocks, and all other sorts of stores needful for the royal navy.