48-560: Historic Dockyard may refer to: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard , a maritime museum in Hampshire, England Chatham Historic Dockyard , a maritime museum in Greater London, England Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Historic Dockyard . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
96-529: A 'New Gunwharf' was opened at Priddy's Hard (north of the original site, to the east of Green Lane) consisting of a factory, foundry, smithery and other facilities. It also dealt with small arms repairs and included a testing range for rifles, pistols and machine guns; and there was a repair shop for locomotives and other rolling stock used around the depot. Priddy's Hard was fully utilised during World War II when thousands of women workers filled jobs vacated by men on active service. For many years, Priddy's Hard
144-433: A 'New Laboratory' complex was constructed, consisting of several small wooden buildings embedded in the southern section of the ramparts, for filling cartridges either with powder (supplied direct from 'E' Magazine) or cordite. At the same time, a series of massive new stores for filled shells were provided within the quadrangle of the old Royal Laboratory near the loading pier, alongside a new storehouse for naval mines . In
192-445: A double line. The rails were made of delta metal , an alloy of copper and zinc , ( brass ) plus a little iron, as a precaution against sparks; they were grooved rails (set flush with ground level). In 1904 it had 78 trucks. In time it was largely superseded by the 2 ft 6 in ( 762 mm ) narrow gauge line; but part continued in use inside some workshops and stores to about 1960. The 2 ft 6in line, known as
240-504: A guardhouse was built at around this time to the north of the magazine, just inside the main entrance through the ramparts. There was also a small barracks block within the northernmost demi-bastion (where "E" Magazine stands today), but neither it nor the guardhouse have survived; (from 1807 nearby Forton Barracks accommodated artillery troops, who manned the fortifications and in 1833 the Dockyard Police Force took over
288-634: A museum. In 1750 by an Act of King George III the Board of Ordnance purchased 40 acres (16 ha ) of agricultural land in Gosport and a boatyard from Jane Priddy and Fareham Vicar, Thomas Missing. This was to construct an earthen rampart as part of an extension of the defences of Portsmouth Harbour and the Royal Dockyard , the Gosport Lines . The ramparts were completed in 1757 and
336-662: A new cooperage alongside. By 1846 Priddy's Hard was still under the control of the Board of Ordnance and the following building existed on the site: In 1804, offshoots of the Royal Laboratory (Woolwich) had been established in Portsmouth and Plymouth, their design overseen by the Comptroller, William Congreve . Forty years later the decision was taken to move the Portsmouth Laboratory (which
384-461: A pair of two-storey buildings were erected, one of which served as a shifting house (for examining the powder), the other as a cooperage (though it was soon converted into a second shifting house); later known as the North and South Stores, these buildings were expanded and connected together in the early 19th century to form a single long building which stands parallel with the magazine. For security,
432-724: A report to the Master-General by the local Ordnance Storekeeper in Portsmouth: First. In carrying powder from thence to the hoys about 400 yards (367 m) distance to the end of the Point , and by shaking the barrels together in a Cart there has been a train along that street, which in War time is the most popular part of the town. Second. When funerals pass by there the sparks of the Links and Torches have been seen to fly against
480-441: A separate tramway to their own storage facilities, which were located alongside the 18th-century 'A' Magazine. From the 1890s new types of explosive were coming into use, including guncotton and cordite . These needed their own specialized buildings for preparation and storage, which were for the most part built outside the ramparts, north and north-west of the historic centre (most of these buildings have been demolished). In 1896
528-601: A tramway linked each of these buildings (and each stage of the process), from 'C' Magazine through the Laboratory complex and on to a new pier (the Shell Pier). In 1879 a new magazine was built within the northern bastion ; detached from the central area and served by its own pier (the New Powder Pier, 1876), it replaced the 18th-century "A" magazine as the depot's main storage magazine (thereafter "A" magazine
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#1732776732628576-497: Is a former military installation in Gosport on the south coast of England , named for the original landowner and the firm beach found there. The site originated as a 1750s fort , and then became an armaments depot for Royal Navy and British Army weapons, explosives and other stores. The site was decommissioned in 1988, after over two hundred years of operation, with part now being developed for housing and an area retained as
624-922: 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
672-716: The Royal Marines Museum , the Royal Navy Submarine Museum , the Fleet Air Arm Museum and Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower . 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
720-498: The hard (after which the site was named) and thereby conveyed across the foreshore; but when the time came, it was decided to construct a camber basin (in place of the hard) to enable the vessels to unload much closer to the rear of the magazine. However, access to the camber by hoys was a problem from the very beginning: although the camber basin was constructed with a sluice to help prevent silting up, vessels still had difficulty entering it at any other time than high tide. This problem
768-408: The 'shell tramway', was a double line system with steel rails; the line initially linked the shell-filling rooms and associated buildings to the shell stores and it ran along the length of the shell pier. In 1904 it had 30 trucks plus a travelling crane (all with brass wheels to reduce sparks). These were also manually driven until 1929, when for the first time mechanical propulsion was provided within
816-399: The 1860s, Priddy's Hard ordnance depot had an 18 in ( 457 mm ) gauge manually-propelled tramway installed for moving powder and ammunition from 'C' Magazine through the Laboratory complex. Known as the 'powder line', it grew into a single line system with spurs into all magazines, explosives stores, cartridge filling rooms, and landing sheds. It extended out on the New Powder Pier in
864-664: The Battle of Trafalgar, ending with a panorama painted by William Lionel Wyllie . 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. 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
912-868: The Foundation of the Wall, and strike up damps, which might be cured by Arching over that places; but since the other inconveniences are so great to cause the Ruin of this Place and from miles around: Am humbly of the opinion a New Magazine in the Harbour, free from the said Hazards would be most for the safety of this port. If the Magazine had exploded the casualties would have been appalling in this densely populated part of Portsmouth . Serious accidents with gunpowder were well known, some of them were recorded as follows: Various proposals were suggested as to where to build
960-618: The International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC), in Boathouse 4, 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
1008-635: The Magazine Walls and Windows. Third. At shipping off the Powder from the Point among a crowd of drunken, smoking, sailors tending to the Men of Wars boats is also a very great hazard. Fourth. This Magazine being next to the sea and within reach of Shipping, makes it a good Mark to Bombard where 6,000 barrels (950 m ) of Powder are lodged. 5th. When Spring Tides come into the Ground Room under
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#17327767326281056-617: The New Shell Store in 1904 raised concern over the site's proximity to the Royal Dockyard and eventually led to the establishment of a new storage facility north of Priddy's Hard at Bedenham (where construction began in 1908). Priddy's Hard itself then focussed on the filling of shells and cartridges, rather than on bulk storage. During World War I the sudden increase in demand led to additional filling rooms for cartridges, tubes and artillery fuzes saw added in rows around
1104-403: The R.N.A.D. will remain unchanged. The transfer took place progressively over the next ten years. Priddy's Hard was vacated by RNAD Gosport in 1988 when the last remaining stores and staff were relocated. The depots at Bedenham, Elson and Frater continue in operation as part of Defence Equipment and Support under the name Defence Munitions Gosport . The oldest part of the site is now open to
1152-463: The Royal Navy but also for guns on the dockyard fortifications and for use in military campaigns around the globe. Almost as soon as the Priddy's Hard magazine had opened, Britain found itself on a war footing. Although six thousand barrels of gunpowder could be stored there, increasing demand meant that Priddy's Hard struggled to provide what was needed. The pressure was somewhat relieved in 1796 by
1200-642: The cancellation may have been the serious fire in the Portsmouth Royal Dockyard in 1776. The resulting lack of storage capacity was highlighted during the Napoleonic Wars and as a consequence led to the use of hulks as floating gunpowder magazines in the reaches of Fareham Lake (beginning with HMS Bulldog in 1801). By May 1777, the first powder barrels were moved to Priddy's Hard from Portsmouth's Square Tower. Board of Ordnance 2 May 1777 Gentlemen, The Board direct that
1248-585: The construction of a magazine across the harbour at Tipner (the choice of location reflected the policy of the Duke of Richmond , Master-General of the Ordnance, to disperse the nation's stores of gunpowder and thus minimise the potential impact of a single depot being attacked). In 1804 buildings were constructed on Stamshaw Point and Horsea Island for the repair of damp or damaged gunpowder, which could then be returned for storage and re-use. Records exist for
1296-418: The cordite magazines (west of the old site); there were also new storage buildings added in this area for mines, bombs and depth charges . New explosives such as trotyl (TNT) and amatol were provided with storage and processing rooms near the shell-filling rooms. A mainline rail connection was first provided in 1914 and three years later a long 'transfer shed' was built alongside the New Shell Store to enable
1344-516: The direct loading of filled shells and other items on to rolling stock. 1923 saw the closure of H.M. Gunwharf, Portsmouth; its naval facilities and personnel were all transferred to Priddy's Hard, which thereafter became the senior local depot with overall responsibility not only for supply of ammunition, as previously, but also for servicing and repairing all types of naval ordnance equipment from machine guns to depth charge throwers. To accommodate this additional work (naval gun repair in particular)
1392-491: The increased use of artillery shells on land and at sea. By the 1860s, the filling of shells and preparation of fuzes had become the main work of the Royal Laboratory (the manufacture of small arms cartridges having moved in 1859 to a group of buildings to the west, just inside the ramparts). Before long, new purpose-built structures were added to the eastern edge of the site to deal with the manufacture of shells;
1440-582: The labourers at the Gun Wharf at Portsmouth assist in removing the Powder from the Town Magazine, and in unloading and stacking the same in the Magazine at Priddy's Hard, this they are to continue to do when business at the Gun Wharf will permit. Thenceforward Priddy's Hard operated in tandem with the Board of Ordnance 's other main Portsmouth facility, H.M. Gunwharf (not far from the Dockyard on
1488-734: The land (already owned by the Crown ) and in December 1766 the decision was finally made by the Ordnance Board and the First Lord of the Admiralty . Construction of the new powder magazine on land within the ramparts commenced in 1771. The Grand Magazine (as it became) was enclosed with a high brick wall to assist with security and to ensure no contraband items were brought into the magazine; these items included ferrous objects (to reduce
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1536-628: The land enclosed known to as Priddy's Hard Fort ; it was manned by the Army . In the nineteenth century Priddy's Hard Fort was armed with 14 eighteen pounder guns. In 1764, after a series of petitions sent to the Master-General of the Ordnance from the general public, the decision was made to remove gunpowder from Old Portsmouth , where it had been stored since the 1580s in the Square Tower . The problem had been raised as early as 1716 in
1584-456: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Historic_Dockyard&oldid=1175946786 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
1632-408: The new gunpowder magazine: Priddy's Hard, Boatswain's Hill Coppice (where Defence Munitions Gosport is today), and Horsea Island in the eastern reaches of Portsmouth Harbour. None of the sites were considered ideal, including Priddy's Hard, the main concern being the closeness of the Royal Dockyard, this would eventually lead to its final closure. Priddy's Hard was chosen due to the availability of
1680-467: The other side of the harbour), which stored items other than gunpowder (from cannons and gun carriages to small arms and cutlasses). The Board of Ordnance, through these and other depots, provided gunpowder and artillery pieces for both naval and (land-based) military use. Depots (such as Priddy's Hard) which were built near the Royal Dockyards provided powder not only for use on board the ships of
1728-615: The payment of wages of £5 a month "on account of the Royal Powder Works at Little Horsey Island for wages of the cooper, repairing of boats and barges, keep of dogs etc.." In addition to the magazine at Tipner and the Powder Works at Stamshaw and Little Horsea, a further three magazines were built by the Board of Ordnance at Marchwood in 1814-16. Throughout, Priddy's Hard remained the most important of these sites. In 1804
1776-408: 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. 50°48′04″N 1°06′36″W / 50.801°N 1.110°W / 50.801; -1.110 Priddy%27s Hard Priddy's Hard
1824-472: The risk of sparks), alcohol and smoking materials. It took six years for the complex to be completed. The site needed to be accessible by boat: new gunpowder would be delivered by barge from the Royal Powder Mills at Faversham and Waltham Abbey and then conveyed to and from ships using small sailing vessels called hoys . It was initially assumed that the gunpowder barrels would be unloaded on
1872-417: The rolling way was covered over and additional structures were built alongside it: a foreman's office and a 'shoe room' (where workers were required to change into specialist clothing before entering the magazine). These structures, initially built in timber, were refaced in brick and roofed with slate after the end of the Napoleonic Wars . In 1811 an office building was built to the south of the magazine, with
1920-767: The task of guarding the depot itself). A large house, the Officers' Residence, was built facing Forton Creek in 1783; surrounded by spacious gardens, it provided accommodation for the three senior officers of the depot: the Storekeeper, the Clerk of the Cheque and the Clerk of the Survey. The addition of a further two magazines flanking either end and at right angles to the Grand Magazine was cancelled. A possibility for
1968-483: The yard by a battery-driven locomotive (the first of an eventual total of eight to be provided by Greenwood & Batley Ltd). The tramway ceased operation in 1960 following the acquisition of a number of electric road tractors and trailers; much of the rail network was then lifted and the routes concreted over to form roadways. The site was altered continuously during the early 20th century, as new types of ammunition and propellant came into use; however, an explosion in
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2016-402: Was both the Royal Navy's and regional Army's armaments depot and supplier of ordnance and training to Commonwealth and Foreign countries, though its significance decreased over time. In 1971 the 18th-century buildings on the site (including "A" and "B" magazines) were given over to serve as an in-house museum, in which items associated with the depot's history were stored and displayed. The site
2064-557: Was created to promote and manage the tourism element of the Royal Navy Dockyard , with the relevant trusts maintaining and interpreting their attractions. It also promotes other nearby navy-related tourist attractions. The National Museum of the Royal Navy was first opened in Portsmouth in 1911. It changed its name to the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth to reflect its expanded responsibilities over
2112-804: Was last used for significant naval activity during the Falklands Conflict in 1982. During the 20th century, a number of sub-depots were established under the oversight of what became known (from 1918) as Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) Priddy's Hard: The above depots were served (from 1913) by a standard-gauge internal railway system, which was linked to the Fareham to Gosport main-line but served by fireless locomotives provided by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. These were replaced with Hunslet Engine Company diesel locomotives from 1944. The network, at its most extensive, had over 18 miles of track; it ceased operation in 1989. Preparatory work
2160-439: Was mostly concerned with the manufacture of small arms ammunition) from Portsea to the more secure surroundings of Priddy's Hard. This took place in 1847-8, with the design of the new complex closely following that of Congreve's original. It marked the start of what was to be a pronounced change of emphasis at Priddy's Hard: from storage to manufacturing. The establishment of the Royal Laboratory at Priddy's Hard coincided with
2208-409: Was set out in 1976 to relocate all armament support activities and facilities from Priddy's Hard to Elson and Frater. A 1977 memorandum set out a long-term plan for the following decade: From 1st August 1977, in anticipation of this transfer of activities from Priddy's Hard, the armament facilities currently known collectively as R.N.A.D. Priddy's Hard will be retitled R.N.A.D. Gosport. The role of
2256-480: Was solved by the construction of a pier (later known as the Old Powder Pier) on the eastern side of the camber basin, the remains of which can be seen at low water. Barrels of gunpowder were moved between the camber and the magazine by means of what was called the 'rolling way' (the barrels were never rolled individually but placed in trolleys). Within the magazine compound, on either side of the rolling way,
2304-454: Was used to store filled shells, rockets and small arms ammunition): In 1883, an explosion in one of the shell filling rooms led to much activity being removed from the central area of the site to the west, beyond the ramparts, where several new buildings were erected alongside Forton Creek, all linked to the main site by tramway: Before long, facilities were added at Forton Creek for filling new Quick Firing (QF) shells; these were connected by
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