Gosport Timeline
Key events from Medieval to present to present
Discover the key moments that shaped Gosport. Explore the events that define our community.
Medieval to present
The Gosport Ferry: Centuries of Harbour Crossing
The Gosport ferry has been the town's most important transport link for centuries, providing the direct crossing to Portsmouth across the narrow harbo...
c. 700
Saxon Settlement and the Name Gosport
The origins of Gosport stretch back to the Saxon period, when a small settlement existed on the western shore of the harbour that would later become P...
1539
Henry VIII Orders Harbour Defences
In 1539, as part of his nationwide programme of coastal defence against the threat of French and Spanish invasion, Henry VIII ordered the construction...
1710s
Fort Blockhouse Rebuilt and Expanded
Fort Blockhouse, the defensive position at the tip of the Gosport peninsula commanding the harbour entrance, was substantially rebuilt and expanded in...
1753
Royal Naval Hospital Haslar Opens
The Royal Naval Hospital Haslar opened in 1753 on the Haslar peninsula, south-east of the town centre. It was the largest brick building in Europe at ...
1756-1770
Construction of the Gosport Lines
Between 1756 and 1770, the Gosport Lines were constructed, a continuous defensive rampart and ditch encircling the landward side of the town. The Line...
1841
Gosport Railway Opens
The Gosport railway line opened on 29 November 1841, providing a direct rail connection from Gosport to the main line network via Fareham. The line wa...
1860s
Palmerston Forts Built Around Gosport
In the 1860s, a ring of forts was built around Gosport as part of the national defence programme ordered by Lord Palmerston's government. The forts we...
1905
HMS Sultan Established as Naval Training Base
HMS Sultan was established in 1905 on the western side of Gosport as a naval training facility, originally focusing on engineering skills for the incr...
1940-1944
Gosport Bombed During the Second World War
Gosport suffered significant bomb damage during the Second World War, targeted by the Luftwaffe because of the town's military installations, the harb...
1950s-1960s
Rowner Estate Built for Naval Families
The Rowner housing estate was built in the 1950s and 1960s on the western side of Gosport, primarily to provide housing for naval families and workers...
1953
Gosport Railway Closes to Passengers
The Gosport railway line closed to regular passenger services on 8 June 1953, one of the earlier closures in what would become a nationwide programme ...
1981
Royal Navy Submarine Museum Opens to the Public
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum, located adjacent to Fort Blockhouse on the Haslar peninsula, opened its doors to the public in 1981. The museum's cen...
2001
Explosion Museum Opens at Priddy's Hard
The Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower opened in 2001 at Priddy's Hard, the former naval armaments depot on the harbour shore in northern Gosport. Th...
2009-present
Royal Naval Hospital Haslar Closes and Redevelopment Begins
The Royal Naval Hospital Haslar closed in 2009 after over 250 years of continuous service, marking the end of one of the longest-operating military ho...
2012
Gosport Discovery Centre Opens on the Waterfront
The Gosport Discovery Centre opened in 2012 on the waterfront at the southern end of the High Street, replacing the former library and museum faciliti...