Living History
Gosport has many unique living history experiences to bring history to life.
These include:
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum
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The Royal Navy Submarine Museum gives you the change to climb inside a real submarine, peer through the periscope and hear stories directly from ex-submariners. Pay tribute to submariners lost during the Second World War, and come as close as you can to experiencing life under the sea.
Children can also have fun in the Neptune Gallery, an interactive play area.
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OPENING HOURS The Museum is open every day, all year round except 24 & 25 December APRIL - OCT 10:00am - 5:30pm |
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17th Century Village: 1642 Experience
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Travel back in time to 1642, by visiting the medieval village in Little Woodham. Walk around the village at your leisure, and converse with villagers who will tell you about their everyday lives and issues of the time.
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2010 OPENING HOURS Open 10.30am - 4.30 pm, last admissions 3.30pm July 4th, 10th, & 11th August 1st - 8th, 22nd - 30th October 3rd, 9th & 10th |
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Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower
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Discover the stories of the people who worked at Priddy's Hard, creating armaments for the Royal Navy, from the Battle of Trafalgar to the Falklands War.
Walk around the unique collection of small arms, ammunition, mines, torpedoes and modern missiles, and hear the stories of sailors who experienced first hand the terrifying weaponry of the Royal Navy.
"Undeniably griping" - The Times
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2010 OPENING HOURS Apr to Oct Everyday |
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Hovercraft Museum
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At Lee-on-the-Solent there is the Hovercraft Museum. The Solent has many connections with the hovercraft since SRN I was unveiled in 1957 by Sir Christopher Cockrell. It is not always open to the public, so do check before visiting, at www.hovercraft-museum.org
These museums will fascinate visitors of all ages, from the young to the not so young!
While at Lee, you may see the Coastguard rescue helicopter “India Juliet” the star of a popular TV series, operating from the adjacent airfield.
Lee seafront itself offers magnificent Solent and Isle of Wight views as does unspoilt Stokes Bay - at both you can safely swim, sail and windsurf.
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For more information or questions about our hovercraft & museum services, please contact us via |
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More "Historical Gosport".....
In the 18th century this was extended to include ordnance depot at Priddy’s Hard and later a new victualling depot at Royal Clarence Yard.
In the 19th century, this military importance led to a line of five forts being built across the peninsula.
They became known as Palmerston’s Follies - now they represent an impressive and intriguing sight with Spitbank Fort and Fort Gilkicker offering some of the best views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight.
During the Second World War, 11,000 houses were damaged in Gosport and nearly 500 were destroyed with 111 civilians killed and 289 wounded.
© Hampshire Library and Information Service - Hampshire County Council
www.hantsphere.org.uk
Haslar Creek was home to our coastal forces and HMS Dolphin at the harbour entrance was home to the submarine service.
Grange Airfield had long been used for flying training and trained pilots for World War II. Nearby HMS Daedalus, at Lee-on-the-Solent, was a Fleet Air Arm base.
The town made a major contribution to D-Day, with three embarkation points at Stokes Bay, Beach Street and Hardway, which was visited by the King, the Prime Minister and Field Marshall Montgomery on the 22nd May 1944. Later, Hardway saw the return of the wounded and prisoners.
Whilst the impact of the military generated much employment and wealth, there were several notable civilians who influenced the town and its development.
One was Henry Cort, who developed the ‘puddling and rolling’ process of iron maintenance that revolutionised the iron industry.
Between 1827 and 1831, Robert Cruickshank’s architect designed “The Crescent”, a grand Georgian terrace of houses described as the best example of its type in Hampshire.
The growing importance of Gosport brought the railway to the town in 1841. Branch lines to Hardway, Stokes Bay and Lee-on-the-Solent were built and Queen Victoria embarked from Gosport for Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
© Hampshire Library and Information Service - Hampshire County Council
www.hantsphere.org.uk
In the 1930s, ship and boat building and supplying the Royal Navy dominated the Gosport economy. But in the post war years, new factories were built on bomb-damaged sites and the town thrived with factories making televisions and other electronic equipment, plastic products, pharmaceuticals and wallpaper.
Boat building has lasted for centuries and continues to this day. The first marina for yachts opened in 1957 and in recent years several other busy and thriving marinas have sprung up.
Gosport was twinned with Royan, France in 1959 - links which successfully continue to this day.
At the turn of the new Millennium, Gosport’s Waterfront was transformed as part of the Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour, and now offers the finest views of Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower and the busy waterways.
On Wednesday 25th August 2004, Gosport Borough Council organised a ceremony to mark the Town's 800th birthday with a Civic Procession led by the Mayor ending at the Timespace on the Millennium Promenade. A short service was held and children representing Newtown School buried a time capsule, which, if unearthed in hundreds of years time might give those who find it an insight into how we live today.
