SHEERNESSE, a seaport and market-town of England, in the county of Kent, on the north-west corner of the Island of Sheppey, at the confluence of the Medway with the Thames, 20 miles N.N.E. of Maidstone, and 47 E. by S. of London. It consists of three parts, Sheerness proper, Bluetown, and Miletown; the first contains the dockyards and fortresses, and this, as well as the second, is encircled by fortifications, beyond which lies the suburb called Miletown. The town has been much improved, especially within recent years, and now contains several handsome streets, with good brick houses. The dockyard and buildings connected with it occupy an area of 69 acres, enclosed by a brick wall. Here there are all the establishments necessary for the building, repairing, and equipment of ships. There is a basin or wet-dock 520 feet by 300, covering an area of 3½ acres; two others of smaller size; three dry docks, each 248 feet by 88; sheers for lifting masts, 127 feet high; a building slip; store-houses, joiners' and smiths' shops; residences for the commander-in-chief, and various other officials; besides an ordinance-office, and heavy batteries of 100 guns. The dockyard is built on piles; and since 1815 about 3,000,000 sterling have been laid out upon its improvement. Near the dock-gates stands a large and handsome chapel, attached to the garrison; and
in the town is a Gothic district church, belonging to the parish of Minster. The other places of worship belong to the Wesleyan Methodists, the Baptists, the Roman Catholics, and the Jews. There are also various schools, a mechanics' institute, reading societies, and a savings bank. A county court is held in the town, and there are weekly markets. The trade is very considerable; but depends chiefly on the dockyards, although corn and seeds from the Isle of Sheppey, and oysters from the adjacent banks, are conveyed to London. Copperas is manufactured at a short distance from Sheerness, the materials being supplied in abundance from the multitude of pyrites found in the rocks to the east. Sheerness is resorted to as a sea-bathing place to a considerable extent. There is a pier 1000 yards long, for the steamers that ply daily between this and London. The town is of comparatively recent origin, as it is not yet 200 years since its foundation. In the time of the Commonwealth, the site was a mere swamp, on which a fort with 12 guns was built after the Restoration. But before the wars could be completed, the Dutch, in 1667, entered the Thames, and took and destroyed the fort. It was afterwards restored and enlarged, the dockyard was established, which has become one of the finest in Europe, and additions were made to the works at various subsequent times. In 1797, Sheerness was threatened by the mutiny of the fleet at the Nore; but was saved by the suppression of that movement in the same year. The town suffered from an extensive conflagration in 1827, but was speedily restored in a superior style. Pop. 8549.