Local heritage related events and information.
Please check back regularly for new items.
Mystery Object #3
This HAT BRIM iron was used to clear the brims of top hats and bowler hats to clean them. The iron was placed on a stove to heat up then used to iron the brim of the hats to ensure they were flat. This dates from 19th century. Have you got anything like this at […]
Mystery Object #2
These are very clever mobile hair curlers with their own heating system! Paraffin was poured into the circular well, the wick was lit and the curling tongs were put on top of the device to heat up and curl the hair. The first hair curler made its appearance in 1872 but this set with its […]
Mystery Object #1
What are these strange photos of? How are they used ? How old are they? These collar and cuff crimping irons were used to put tiny pleats and ruffles into freshly laundered and starched cuffs and collars for men’s shirts. The crimpers are made of wood and brass and were heated up on the stove […]
GOSPORT HERITAGE OPEN DAYS AGM ON 19 APRIL – all welcome
Come and join us at Gosport Museum and Art Gallery at 1800 for our Annual General Meeting where you find out about what we do, why we are celebrating 30 years and the 2024 theme. This year we have a European theme around heritage routes, networks and connections looking at how people and ideas have […]
Calling all Heritage buffs
To get involved and organise heritage events 6-15 September 2024 2024 sees the country’s largest festival of history and culture returning to Gosport on 6-15 September, 30 years after Heritage Open Days (HODs) started. Now Gosport HODS is looking for event organisers, history buffs and volunteers itching to get involved. The 2024 European heritage routes, […]
“Before the Borough” by Philip Eley
“Before the Borough” by Philip Eley (40 A4-sized pages of text with a number of monochrome illustrations), is the sixth title in the Gosport Papers series. It was published in September 2022 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Borough of Gosport, which resulted in the Gosport and Alverstoke Urban District Council […]
A Day We Will Never Forget: D-Day, 6 June 1944
Click image for audio For a transcript of the audio click this link
The Diving Museum needs your help
The Diving Museum has recently been fortunate to attract funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. During the coming months they will be preparing plans for an exciting redevelopment of the museum and this is why they need your opinions to help us shape their plans. Click the link below to the questionnaire, takes about […]
PUTTING GOSPORT’S CREATIVES ON THE MAP
– HERITAGE OPEN DAYS CREATIVITY UNWRAPPED THEME 2023 ANNOUNCED GOSPORT, 27 February 2023: Heritage Open Days will be unwrapping the colourful history of creativity as its theme for 2023. So this is a great chance for Gosport’s creatives to think of workshops, performances, exhibitions and displays to show off their art and celebrate how Gosport […]
PUTTING GOSPORT’S INVENTORS AND PIONEERS ON THE MAP
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS INNOVATION THEME 2022 ANNOUNCED Heritage Open Days has chosen Astounding Innovations as their theme for 2022. Local organisations with people wanting to share their knowledge of old buildings, inaccessible features and fascinating history are invited to develop events celebrating Gosport’s inventions, industry and innovation. Events could transport visitors back to the past […]
GOSPORT’S HERITAGE OPEN DAYS ATTRACTS OVER 16,000 VISITS
10 days and 69 free events Gosport, a historic town with 16 conservation areas, 13 scheduled monuments and over 500 listed buildings, staged 69 unique events reflecting the town’s cultural and military heritage this year. Heritage Open Days ran from 10-19 September and saw over 16,000 visits by people enjoying forts, churches, Naval buildings, graveyards […]