Haslar

The naval and medical heritage quarter of Gosport, dominated by the former Royal Naval Hospital, the Submarine Museum, and harbour defences.

Haslar occupies the south-eastern tip of the Gosport peninsula, a strategically important area shaped almost entirely by the Royal Navy. The dominant building is the former Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, a vast Georgian complex built between 1746 and 1762 that was the largest brick building in Europe when completed. The hospital served naval personnel for over 250 years before closing in 2009, and its future has been the subject of extensive planning applications and local debate. The site is now being redeveloped as a mixed residential and heritage complex. Fort Blockhouse, at the very tip of the peninsula facing Portsmouth Harbour, was a key naval defensive position and later became the home of the Royal Navy's submarine service. HMS Dolphin, the submarine base, was located here until its closure in 1998. The Royal Navy Submarine Museum (now part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy) sits adjacent to Fort Blockhouse and houses HMS Alliance, a restored Second World War submarine open to visitors. Haslar Marina provides berthing for leisure sailors and motor cruisers, occupying the inlet between the hospital grounds and the harbour entrance. Haslar Bridge, a retractable road bridge, connects Haslar to the main body of Gosport and is periodically raised to allow boat passage. The area around Haslar is still heavily influenced by its military past, with Ministry of Defence land, restricted areas, and institutional buildings forming much of the built environment. Haslar Creek, the tidal inlet running inland from the harbour, separates Haslar from Alverstoke and creates a distinctive waterside landscape. The combination of the submarine museum, the hospital redevelopment, and the marina makes Haslar one of the more interesting areas of the borough for visitors, though it retains a quiet, somewhat enclosed character.