EXPLOSION - The Naval Firepower Museum

School Children Experience Bomb Raid in New Shelter

Medieval Banqueting at Explosion!

The Museum will soon be hosting a series of Peasants Banquets in a its specially decorated Conference Hall.

Guests can visit the court of two medieval Knights in their Banqueting hall, amidst banners, shields and flickering torches. Included is a fulsome four course feast with wine and beer. Let the jesters and strolling players be amongst thee and entertain thee with riddle, story and feats of balance and skill!

For more information about the banquets and for availability please visit www.medieval-banquet-party.co.uk

New Publication is launched with a bang at Explosion!

A new publication entitled ‘Arming the Fleet’ – The Development of the Royal Ordnance Yards 1770 – 1945 was successfully launched at Explosion! the Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport on Tuesday 28^th November 2006. The publication by David Evans has been published by the Museum in association with English Heritage. The books production team were joined by members of the public in an official launch opened by the Mayor of Gosport, Cllr. June Cully.

The publication retails at £19.95 and is available directly from the Museum. For more details on the new publication or any other publication sold at the Museum, please contact the Gift Shop on 023 9250 5612.

The Mayor of Gosport, Cllr. June Cully with Author David Evans, Cllr. Jess Cully and Robert Harper, Head of Conservation & Design, Gosport Borough Council.

For more information on the book please visit www.armingthefleet.org.uk

Ghost Walks announced for Winter Season 2006/7!!

Explosion! the Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy's Hard is delighted to confirm its busy Winter programme of events. Included among the new listings are six Ghost Walks. The walks allow visitors to tour the derelict buildings of Priddy's Hard in a special guided walk. For more details please see the Museum's special event page.

Paranormal Investigations at Explosion!!

Explosion! the Museum of Naval Firepower now offers the Museum and other buildings for overnight investigation hire. We supply a member of staff to escort you around the site and advise on basic historical information if required. We usually allow for a short-guided tour of the buildings at the start to give you an idea of the areas that your group can investigate.

There are three options that we offer to investigating groups, these can include food and refreshments throughout the night. In all circumstances, we offer the Museum’s Coffee shop free of charge as a base for the evening.

For more information about Investigations at Explosion! please click here

Explosion! takes top Tourism Award!!

Explosion! the Museum of Naval Firepower has won Tourism South East's award for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2005.

Marc Farrance (Events / Bookings Coordinator), The Mayor of Gosport and Cllr. Mark Hook receive the award from Angela Ripon OBE.

Tourism South East's Tourism ExSEllence Awards 2005 were held at Great Fosters Hotel in Egham, Surrey

Explosion! were short listed in the category 'Small Visitor Attraction of the Year' along with three other attractions: -

Ashdown Forest Llama Park, Forest Row, East Sussex
Model Village, Godshill, Isle of Wight
The Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire

Explosion! were lucky enough to win the award that was presented by Angela Rippon, OBE. This regional award gives Explosion! the chance to compete at the annual 'Enjoy England Awards for Excellence' in April 2006 against other regional winners from around the country.

More information and pictures from the awards ceremony will appear on the site shortly.

30 Tons of World War II weapon rebuilt by Museum volunteers

The LIMBO Anti Submarine Mortar (AS Mk 10) formerly sited at HMS VERNON, Portsmouth has now been rebuilt to provide a major item in the reserve collection at Explosion!

This weapon was a shipbourne surface to sub-surface medium range anti-submarine mortar system with a triple barrelled mortar firing three 175kg projectiles which were programmed to give a three dimensional explosive pattern ahead of the ship. Loading was accomplished by automatic powered horizontal rams from a magazine/handling facility located alongside the Mortar barrels. It was in service on Frigates and Destroyers in the Royal Navy from the early 1960's to the 1980's.

Above: The Volunteers and Councillor Peter Langdon with the Mortar and magazine/handling facility in building 309.

The Mortar section weighing over 12 tons was delivered to the Museum in one piece, but the magazine/handling facility weighing over 17 tons was stripped down for transportation, and has been completely rebuilt, including the manufacture of some missing parts. this has been achieved by the team of Ordnance Engineers at Explosion! over a long time period. Led by bill Adnitt, they are Fred Bellchambers, Frank Leach, Colin Linington, Sid petty, Harry Morgan, Ray Mumford and Mike Ryan.

This success is all the more remarkable considering that the 12 ton+ Mortar had to be moved into a suitable building to be revisited alongside the magazine/handling facility once it was completed. This was achieved under the direction of Paul Dight, the Museum's full time technician who was able to supply all the tools and materials from existing resources as well as the techniques for moving large and heavy objects. This meant that the cost of the entire operation was just £26.50 - for a new set of heavy duty door hinges. (M Hockin - October 2005)

Gunpowder Run a Rolling Success

Hundreds gathered on the Camber area to watch the beginning of the Gunpowder Run on Saturday 11th June. The event, that finished in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard, was deemed a great success by all involved. The start of the event followed an explosive talk on Gunpowder by Tony Boxell and a loading re-enactment by the HMS Victory's Cutter Crew.

The run itself through the Harbour was won by the 'HMS Pickle' crew from HMS Sultan, second were the Victory Cutter Crew and third were our very own Whaler Team. Other team awards where given out for 'Best Dressed' and 'Best Seamanship' honours. The Explosion! Whaler Team won the Best Dressed award and the 'Best Seamanship' award went to the Lee on Solent Team.

The Explosion! Team Whaler, sponsored by developers Crest Nicholson, leaving the Camber. Image courtesy of Les Brown.

Explosion Crew: Tony Partington (Coxswain), Paul Dight, Kevin Allen, Greg Cook, Ray Mumford, Jon Wilkes, Dave Jarman and Stevie Dight (Bowman).

New Victory Model arrives!

The 1/24 scale model of HMS Victory is part of an exciting new exhibition entitled 'The Trafalgar Gunpowder Trail' that will soon be completed in the Museum's Foyer.

In time to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, visitors will be able to learn about how Gunpowder was transported to Priddy’s Hard and the Trafalgar Fleet, which included Nelson’s Flagship HMS Victory.

The Fantastic Model was made over an eight year period by Stefan Krapf of Flossenburg, Germany. It is on long term loan to the Explosion! Museum.

Above: Stefan Krapf's model of HMS Victory - part of the new 'Trafalgar Gunpowder Trail' Exhibition

Above: An aerial shot of the busy upper deck shows the fantastic detail of the model. All images of the model are courtesy of Les Brown.

For more information on Krapf's model of HMS Victory and other models, visit www.HMShip.com

Building Work Begins at Priddy's Hard

Crest Nicholson have begun the exciting redevelopment work on the area directly West of the Museum compound. We would like to inform future visitors to the Museum that this area is now unaccesible for car parking, unlike before. As we are now open everyday until the end of October, we advise all visitors to use the specially constructed alternative free car park, which is situated through the Museum compound at the back of the site.

Due to this building work, we have had to cancel the Trafalgar Gunfiring and Fireworks display scheduled for October 21st 2005.

Princess Royal Meets Munitions workers

Princess Royal meets pupils from St Johns Primary School

The Princess Royal met ex munitions workers and local volunteers at the award winning Explosion!, The Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport on Tuesday 10 June at 10.30am.

The Princess Royal was greeted on arrival by over 100 local school children. The Mayor of Gosport, Cllr Iris Binfield and Chris Henry, Curator of The Museum of Naval Firepower then gave her a personal tour. She was shown around the interactive galleries, which include the eighteenth century gunpowder vault and the new Invincible exhibition. Here she met ex munitions workers and conservation volunteers. She also visited the Education Centre at Explosion! where she met pupils from St Johns Primary School in Gosport.

Chris Henry, Curator of The Museum of Naval Firepower said, “ She was certainly already very knowledgeable about the subject and we covered a whole range of topics right from the mechanics of armaments to the moral aspects of war”

Princess Royal signing guest book Princess Royal meets volunteer Mike Hockin

Bill Mansfield, ex Priddy’s Hard munitions worker said, “Four generations of my family have worked with the armaments here so it was wonderful to see the princess here.”

Bill Mansfield worked at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot of Priddy’s Hard from 1948 to 1993, as a Laboratory Worker - filling shells and checking fuzes. As a young boy he often played around the secret depot in Gosport.

The Royal visit was part of a wider event by The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal family to travel to many different parts of the UK to show their support for British Tourism on Tuesday 10 June.

Princess Royal meets pupils from St Johns Primary School

Explosion! Wins Silver in Best Small

Visitor Attraction in England

Explosion!, The Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport, Hampshire has won silver in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the final of the Safeway Excellence in England Awards in London. Explosion! beat many other museums and attractions in the regional finals.

Cllr Shaun Cully, Leader of Gosport Borough Council said, “ Explosion! has done Gosport proud. It has been recognised by the English Tourism industry that Explosion! excels as a visitor attraction by winning this silver tourism “Oscar”. We look forward to the Museum going on to further success."

Chris Henry, Curator at Explosion! said, “We are extremely pleased to win this top award. Our visitors have been telling us that Explosion! is an outstanding visitor attraction and it is wonderful for all the staff and volunteers to have this recognised by the English tourism industry.”

The award was presented to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Iris Binfield and curator of The Museum of Naval Firepower Chris Henry by broadcaster Sue Lawley at a ceremony at Billingsgate Old Market. Tourism Minister Dr Kim Howells MP was also present.

Dubbed the “Oscars of Tourism”, the coveted Awards now in their 15^th year, were created by the English Tourism Council to encourage, recognise and honour outstanding achievement within all sectors of the tourism industry. Winners demonstrated innovation and outstanding achievement in the following areas: high standards of facilities and general information; high standards of customer service; high standards of interpretation and presentation; provision for disabled guests and care for the environment.

Last year Explosion!, The Museum of Naval Firepower was voted Specialist Museum of The Year and Hampshire Family Attraction of the Year.

Explosion! is Specialist Museum of the Year 2002

Explosion!, The Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy’s Hard in Gosport, has picked up a prestigious national award. The £3.5 million museum has been awarded ‘Specialist Museum of the Year 2002’ by The Good Britain Guide and also nominated ‘Hampshire Family Attraction of the Year 2002’.

The Good Britain Guide says: “This splendid new museum of naval firepower looks far beyond the obvious, to make a fascinating outing.”

Explosion!, as Specialist Museum of the Year 2002, rubs shoulders in the awards list with the National Gallery (Gallery of the Year), The National Space Centre (National Museum of the Year), Chatsworth (Historic House of the Year) and Longleat (Family Attraction of the Year).

These awards come hard on the heels of the museum’s recent success in the Cannon Hygiene ‘Loo of the Year Awards’ where it was nominated ‘Heritage Museum Loo of the Year Award 2001’ beating off competition from The Tower of London.

Explosion!, The Museum of Naval Firepower, charts the development of naval firepower from gunpowder to modern missiles and tells the fascinating human story of the men and women who worked with them, especially the vital role played by thousands of female munitions workers during two world wars.

Gunpowder Vault at Explosion!