The ropewalk at Chatham Dockyard, kent. Is still producing rope commercially, and the rope walk has an internal length of 1,135 ft (346 m).
When it was constructed in 1790, it was the longest brick building in Europe.
Before steam power was introduced in 1836, it took over 200 men to form and close a 20-inch (circumference) cable laid rope (anchor ropes). The rope walk is used to form and close the rope, these being the final stages in rope making. Before this the raw hemp, manila hemp or sisal has to be hatchelled, spun into yarn, and tarred.