ut on , ▁and ▁the ▁Tw yd all ▁Red ou b ts , ▁with ▁two ▁additional ▁for ts ▁on ▁islands ▁in ▁the ▁Med way , ▁namely ▁Fort ▁H oo ▁and ▁Fort ▁Dar net . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁First ▁World ▁War ▁the ▁Short ▁Brothers ' ▁aircraft ▁manufact uring ▁company ▁developed ▁the ▁first ▁plane ▁to ▁launch ▁a ▁tor ped o , ▁the ▁Short ▁Admir alty ▁Type ▁ 1 8 4 , ▁at ▁its ▁se ap lane ▁factory ▁on ▁the ▁River ▁Med way ▁not ▁far ▁from ▁Ro chester ▁Castle . ▁In ▁the ▁interven ing ▁period ▁between ▁the ▁ 2 0 th ▁century ▁World ▁Wars ▁the ▁company ▁established ▁a ▁world - wide ▁reputation ▁as ▁a ▁constructor ▁of ▁flying ▁boats ▁with ▁aircraft ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁Singapore , ▁Empire ▁' C '- Class ▁and ▁S under land . ▁During ▁the ▁Second ▁World ▁War , ▁Short s ▁also ▁designed ▁and ▁manufact ured ▁the ▁first ▁four - eng ined ▁bom ber , ▁the ▁St ir ling . ▁ ▁The ▁UK ' s ▁decl ine ▁in ▁naval ▁power ▁and ▁ship building ▁compet it iveness ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁government ▁de comm ission ing ▁the ▁R N ▁Sh ip yard ▁at ▁Ch ath am ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 4 , ▁which ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁subsequent ▁dem ise ▁of ▁much ▁local ▁mar itime ▁industry . ▁Ro chester ▁and ▁its ▁neighbour ing ▁communities ▁were ▁hit ▁hard ▁by ▁this ▁and ▁have ▁experienced ▁a ▁pain ful ▁adjust ment ▁to ▁a ▁post - indust rial ▁economy , ▁with ▁much ▁social ▁dep riv ation ▁and ▁un emp loyment ▁resulting