GHOD Blog

‘CUT THROAT’ RAZOR The type properly referred to as straight razors, which reached their design zenith in the early 1900’s, have changed (to the untutored eye) very little since the late 1700’s. Yet in reality they have changed a good deal – including the very steel they are made from. Handles (or, more properly, scales) […]

Porcelain Pie Bird, Funnel or Vent What is the history of pie bird? According to author Linda Fields in her anthology Four & Twenty Blackbirds, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, the history of these “pie birds” can be traced to the Victorian era in Britain. Back then, bakers placed small cylindrical or hourglass-shaped ceramic funnels […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

– 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 […]

Family carnival and costume parade set to dress the streets of Gosport A new Gosport carnival, known as Brouhaha, is coming to Walpole Park on Saturday 17 September, as part of Gosport Heritage Open Days. At Walpole Park there will be a tent with entertainment, such as a talks on choreographer and fencer Bob Anderson, […]

From 09:30am you’ll be able to reserve places at your favourite events. This year we’ve been writing stories about lots of the exciting bookable events that are available to you. We’ve written about Alverstoke and St Mark’s churchyard, the wonderful military Haslar Hospital and the Royal Naval Cemetery But there is also a walk around […]

Col. Bogey’s Birthplace By Rear Admiral R W Paffard, CB, CBE In his book “British Golf”, Bernard Darwin says that in the 1880’s there were only forty six golf courses in England, nearly all by the seaside.  Inland golf, he tells us, was at that time considered no more than a poor substitute for the […]

BOOKING OPENS AT 9:30AM ON 20 AUGUST 2022  Book here https://www.gosportheritage.co.uk/booking-2022/ Every year there are thousands of delighted visitors to Gosport’s heritage events, but also some who failed to secure tickets for the most popular events. Some events like Fort Blockhouse only have spaces for a small number of people so it’s unsurprising that there […]

Do you know the fascinating history of the Royal Navy Cemetery at Clayhall Road? The Royal Hospital Haslar opened in 1753 and from that date all those who died either at Haslar or aboard ships in Portsmouth Harbour, Spithead or the Solent were interred in the grounds of the hospital. The old cemetery at Haslar […]

Did you know that the Gosport Tube, a method of enabling instructors to talk to trainee pilots was invented in Gosport during the First World War? This is probably the most important Gosport Invention to date. In 1917 Major Robert Raymond Smith-Barry took over No.1 (Reserve) Squadron at Grange Airfield, Gosport. He began training new […]

Did you know that the first commercial yachts were built in Gosport? Do you know what a Trotter box is? Do you remember Camper and Nicholson? Then read on… In 1782, the first commercial yacht builder, Francis Amos, a shipwright on the Thames, moved to Charles Fort in Gosport. He began developing his boat building […]

SATURDAY 13 AUGUST There will be fun, live music, charity and craft stalls for shopping and some funfair rides at this year’s Forton Fest so come and see the Open Days stand and join us! We’ll have some Victorian activities for the kids and an Inventions Quiz for the grown-ups. We’ll also be handing out […]

Fort Blockhouse is an existing military establishment in Gosport, and the final version of a complicated site. At its greatest extent in the 19th century, the structure was part of a set of fortifications which encircled much of Gosport. Today the Fort is surrounded on three sides by water and provides the best view of […]

Did you know that Gosport houses the first Royal Navy commissioned submarine? She’s had an interesting history… Holland 1 (or HM submarine Torpedo Boat No 1), built in 1901, is the first submarine in a six-boat batch of the Holland-class submarine commissioned by the Royal Navy. She was lost in 1913 while under tow to […]

Have you ever wondered why there were so many brewers and pubs in Gosport? Do you know what IPA stands for and what it represents? Do you know what sailors used to drink on board ship (as there wasn’t drinking water available until the 19th century?) Then read on… Provisioning for the Royal Navy was […]

Hampshire has been home to a number of railway stations that are now sadly no longer in service and abandoned. Some former railway lines and stations are more prominent than others, like the old Meon Valley line, now a walking and cycling route starting in Wickham, or Droxford, known for being the place where Winston […]

As England’s population grew there was a need for more places to bury our dead. Each church’s graveyard held the dead of its parish and burying the dead was only allowed on the lands near a church. The Hampshire church graveyards became full to overflowing and there was a need for more space, which often […]

On the morning of 5th June 1944 the small yet powerful HMS Medusa set off from Portland on the South Coast of England and began the 90 mile journey across the English Channel to participate in the D-Day landings in Normandy. Taking on a key role as Navigation Leader, Medusa positioned herself on the outskirts […]

Did you know that Gosport had a castle? Do you know where its remains are located? Read on…. Today in Alver Valley Country Park there is no sign of a castle, but there is the remains of a Motte and Bailey. This is probably Norman, as the Normans brought new forms of military architecture, among […]

Martin Snape was born at Spring Garden Cottage, just a stone’s throw outside of the historic town ramparts, on 31 December 1852. He was the first of six children born to Alfred and Sarah Snape who are each listed in the 1851 census as “painter and teacher of drawing”. One of his brothers, William, born […]

Only 18 days to go for you to book your tickets on the 28 bookable events we have this year! Booking opens at 0930 on 20 August 2022 To decide which of these you’d like to book please visit https://www.gosportheritage.co.uk/category/2022-events/ Looking at our 2022 programme you can decide which guided walks you’d like to go […]

PROVINCIAL BUS RALLY, GOSPORT – Stokes Bay 7 August 1000-1630 This year Gosport Heritage Open Days shall again be supporting the Provincial Bus Rally, handing out the new 2022 programme and providing information on new and traditional events. Visitors to our stand will be able to see all the events on the programme and learn […]

Following on from our post yesterday about Queen Victoria’s connection to Royal Clarence Yard, today’s blog delves into Clarence Yard’s primary use for several hundred years as a victualling yard. Feeding the navy has always been a big job, with huge quantities of ale, rum, meat, bread being produced along with many other provisions. Royal […]

Queen Victoria at Royal Clarence Yard Did you know that Queen Victoria has a special link to Gosport and the forgotten railway in the town? To find out more read todays blog… On Tuesday 22 January 1901, the death of Queen Victoria was announced when a notice was pinned to a small bulletin board on […]

Did you know that the first Hovercraft had its maiden journey in the Solent by Gosport? After working for Marconi, where he helped to invent radar, the “hovercraft” inventor Dr Christopher Cockerell patented the word and invention in 1954. Aware of D-Day and Normandy landings Cockerell thought about how to get troops dry-shod and safe […]

This year our researchers have been busy creating an experience in the dark side of Gosport’s history. This 90 minute “adults only” guided walk isn’t based on buildings, but on hidden, social history. You’ll hear about murder, suicide, hanging, prostitution, baby-farming, smuggling, and press gangs. To spice up the proceeding you’ll also get a glimpse […]

This year’s Heritage Open Days features 23 new, interesting events coming for Gosport residents and visitors to enjoy. Some are linked to Gosport’s Astounding Inventions such as the first commercial yachts, oldest diving helmet and ovens where ships biscuits were made. Other new events are at Explosion Museum and the famous Submarine museum. Twelve events […]

As we build up to this year’s Festival you’ll be seeing a lot more of us out and about at local events as we get ready to launch this year’s Programme. We have over 60 events. Half are bookable, half you just need to turn up. A third of our events are Family Friendly and […]

2022 has got some fascinating events. Some are linked to Gosport’s Astounding Inventions, others are favourites such as the excellent Diving Museum to see the world’s oldest diving helmet and to the world’s only Hovercraft Museum. We are excited this year to be having events both at Explosion Museum and at the famous Submarine Museum. […]

Please put 0930 on 20 August 2022 in your diary now, as this is when you can go to www.gosportheritage.co.uk to book your place on some exciting events. To sign up now online to get an e-copy of the programme, go to Contact Us. The new programmes will be appearing in Gosport in early August […]

The theme for this year’s Heritage Open Days is ‘Astounding Inventions’. From 9-18 September there will be FREE events across Gosport celebrating some of the astounding inventions that were created right here in our town! Find out the story of pioneering inventors the Deane Brothers when you visit the Diving Museum in Stokes Bay, or […]

Less than two months to go until Gosport Heritage Open Days 2022 and the team are working hard behind the scenes to finalise the FREE programme of events that will be on between 9-18 September! Make sure you pop the dates in your diary and to find out more about all the exciting events that […]