Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is an area of HM Naval Base Portsmouth which is open to the public; it contains several historic buildings and ships. It is managed by the National Museum of the Royal Navy as an umbrella organization representing five charities: the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, the Mary Rose Trust, the Warrior Preservation Trust Ltd and the HMS Victory Preservation Company. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Ltd was created to promote and manage the tourism element of the Royal Navy Dockyard, with the relevant trusts maintaining and interpreting their own attractions. It also promotes other nearby navy-related tourist attractions.

Signage on Boathouse 4

History

edit

The National Museum of the Royal Navy was first opened in Portsmouth in 1911.[1] It changed its name to the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth to reflect its expanded responsibilities over the Royal Marines Museum, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum and Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower.[1]

Attractions

edit
 
An overview of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in 2005, with HMS Victory in the centre; the Mary Rose ship hall (since rebuilt) is the white building to the right. Many of the surrounding buildings date from the 18th century.

The following ships and historic vessels are displayed at the dockyard:

The National Museum of the Royal Navy is host to many original Naval artefacts, including one of the original sails from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The Trafalgar Experience is an interactive walk-through gallery detailing the Battle of Trafalgar, ending with a panorama painted by William Lionel Wyllie.[6]

Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust (the "Trust") is responsible for the maintenance and the upkeep of all historic buildings within the heritage footprint of the Historic Dockyard, and operates an ongoing programme of conservation.[7] In addition, The Trust founded the Memorial Flotilla, the finest collection of small boats involved in late 19th and 20th century conflicts, as well as the International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC), in Boathouse 4,[8] where traditional boat building skills are taught. A large volunteer force is engaged on the restoration and operation of the Trust’s historic collection of boats. The Trust is also managing the regeneration of the 30 acre site at Priddy's Hard, Gosport. The first development phase is due for completion in the summer of 2021, with the restoration of the ramparts and seven listed buildings, to include a new Coastal Forces Museum, micro-brewery, pub restaurant and holiday let. Thirty new homes will also be built this year with a further major development phase to follow in the near future.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "About Us". National Museum of the Royal Navy. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  2. ^ "HMS Victory". Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  3. ^ "HMS Warrior". Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Only remaining ship from first world war Gallipoli landing opened to public". The Guardian. 20 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Mary Rose". Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Wyllie's Panorama of Trafalgar". National Museum of the Royal Navy. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Welcome". Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: Boathouse 4".
edit

50°48′04″N 1°06′36″W / 50.801°N 1.110°W / 50.801; -1.110