as a straight path along which hemp ropes were twisted into ships' cables (i.e. ropes).

The ropewalk at Chatham Dockyard (as part of the Ropery or Ropehouse) is still producing rope commercially and has an internal length of 1135 ft. 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 cable laid rope of 20 in circumference.