Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower
The Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport offers one of Hampshire’s most dramatic explorations of naval warfare, set inside the former Royal Navy Armaments Depot at Priddy’s Hard. Its historic buildings, once used to store and test explosives, create an atmospheric backdrop for a museum dedicated to the science, danger and ingenuity behind naval weaponry. Inside, visitors can trace the evolution of naval firepower from the age of sail to modern missile systems. Early exhibits include beautifully crafted 18th‑century cannons and mortars, many of which were produced on site. Interactive displays explain how gunpowder was mixed, stored and transported—an operation so risky that workers followed strict rituals to avoid sparks, including wearing special clothing and banning metal tools. The museum’s torpedo gallery is a highlight, featuring examples from the First and Second World Wars alongside the pioneering Whitehead torpedo, the world’s first effective self‑propelled design. Cold War technology is represented through missile guidance systems, mines and underwater detection equipment. Personal stories add depth: diaries, photographs and small objects reveal the lives of the men and women who handled explosives daily.
Gosport United Kingdom
Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower is located in Gosport on the Hampshire coast, just across the harbour from Portsmouth. The address is Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower, Heritage Way, Priddy's Hard, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 4LE, England. It is set in the former Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Priddy's Hard, a historic site right on the waterfront of Portsmouth Harbour. You can drive there or take the Waterbus from Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which is a really nice ride across the water. Because of its position, you have lots of other great places nearby. On the Gosport side you are very close to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum at Haslar Jetty Road, where you can go aboard HMS Alliance, and Gosport Museum and Art Gallery in the town centre. Just across the harbour is Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, home to the National Museum of the Royal Navy, The Mary Rose Museum, HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. You also have Gunwharf Quays with shops and restaurants and the Spinnaker Tower with amazing views over the harbour. Along the Gosport waterfront you can walk along the ramparts at Priddy's Hard, enjoy Stokes Bay beach and views of the Isle of Wight, or visit Fort Brockhurst and the Palmerston Forts.
Museum