The Museum The work was finished in February 2001 and then, after a period of testing and trials, the museum was fully open to the public in March 2001. The galleries and displays that have been created represent the first phase of development for the museum.
His Royal Highness, The Duke of York formally opened this new museum on Monday 30 April 2001. Prince Andrew had a personal tour of the exciting interactive museum by Director of Explosion!, Michael Nutt and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion. The Duke of York was introduced to former workers of the Priddy's Hard Armaments Depot where Explosion! is situated and volunteers who carried out some of the conservation work on the exhibits. Bill Adnitt, conservation volunteer said, 'The Duke of York was very knowledgeable about the gun barrels and breeches. We would be pleased to have His Royal Highness on our team any day'.
Explosion! was set up as a Charity and run initially by a Board of Trustees. In 2002, the Museum was absorbed by Gosport Borough Council. It remained under council management for seven years.
In October 2009 the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust completed the acquisition of Priddy’s Hard and the Museum from Gosport Borough Council.
It now proposes to introduce a summer waterbus service linking Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to Priddy’s Hard, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and Gunwharf Quays. Tickets to the Gosport attractions will be sold in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and at Gunwharf Quays.
It is hoped that the Trust can realise its ambition of uniting the two sides of the harbour as a single visitor destination, as originally intended by the Renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour scheme.
