Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower

Over het museum

Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower occupies part of Priddy's Hard, a former Royal Navy armaments depot on the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour. The site was developed in the 18th century to store and prepare gunpowder and later ammunition and weapons for the fleet, and it grew over the following centuries into a large complex of magazines, workshops and laboratories. The Grand Magazine, a gunpowder store dating from 1771, is one of the oldest surviving buildings.

After the depot closed, the historic buildings were adapted for visitors and the museum opened in 2001. It is now part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which operates it under the Royal Navy Museums name together with its Portsmouth and Gosport sites. Several listed buildings have been joined together to form a single ground-floor route.

The galleries explain how naval firepower developed from gunpowder and cannon to torpedoes, mines, guided missiles and small arms, and they include accounts of the people who designed, made and handled munitions at the depot. The Night Hunters gallery, opened in 2021, tells the story of the Royal Navy's Coastal Forces, the small fast boats that fought at night in the Second World War, and displays two preserved boats. A waterside café looks across the harbour.

Hoogtepunten

• Weapons from gunpowder and cannon to torpedoes and guided missiles
• Grand Magazine, a gunpowder store from 1771
• The Night Hunters gallery on Coastal Forces, with preserved wartime boats
• Hands-on interactives in the galleries
• Waterbus link from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
• Camber Lights Café with views over the harbour

Vaste collectie

• Main galleries: naval firepower – Weapons from gunpowder and cannon to torpedoes, mines, missiles and small arms, set in listed armaments buildings.
• The Night Hunters: the Royal Navy's Coastal Forces at War – The story of the small, fast boats that fought at night in the Second World War, with preserved coastal motor boats.

Opgericht

2001

Beheerder

National Museum of the Royal Navy

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The standard day ticket is for one attraction of the visitor's choice, here the Explosion museum; the museum is also included in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard tickets. The ticket shop sells Gift Aid tickets, and it is not stated whether the listed day price includes the optional donation. Discounts available only at the gate include free entry for UK serving personnel and for Art Fund National Art Pass holders; children with a Blue Peter badge enter free with a full-price Dockyard ticket; offers cannot be combined.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The museum is on one ground-floor level with step-free access at the main entrance and exit; a lift serves a small observation platform in the Night Hunters gallery. The historic buildings have uneven floors, original thresholds, some narrow doorways and shallow ramps between sections. Seating is provided in the galleries. The waterbus cannot take wheelchairs because of the jetty and steps; a wheelchair can be arranged in advance to meet visitors on arrival in Gosport. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Doe- en voelstations

The museum describes itself as suitable for families looking for an interactive day out, with hands-on interactives in the galleries. Buggies can be left at reception.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

By car, use the satnav address Heritage Way, Priddy's Hard, Gosport PO12 4LE. The waterbus may not run in rough weather; visitors then need to return by Gosport Ferry or taxi at their own cost.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Wifi

Free Wi-Fi for visitors; users must sign in and accept the terms. Camber Lights Café serves sandwiches, hot pasties, cakes and drinks, is open to non-visitors, and looks over the harbour. Visitors may bring their own picnic. Buggies can be left at reception at the owner's risk.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur

The Grand Magazine, an 18th-century gunpowder store, can be hired for special days and events.

Je bezoek plannen