Portsmouth Historic Dockyard


Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is an area of HM Naval Base Portsmouth which is open to the public; it contains several historic buildings and ships. It is managed by the National Museum of the Royal Navy as an umbrella organisation representing five charities: the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, the Mary Rose Trust, the Warrior Preservation Trust Ltd and the HMS Victory Preservation Company. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Ltd was created to promote and manage the tourism element of the Royal Navy Dockyard, with the relevant trusts maintaining and interpreting their own attractions. It also promotes other nearby navy-related tourist attractions.

History

The National Museum of the Royal Navy was first opened in Portsmouth in 1911. It changed its name to the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth to reflect its expanded responsibilities over the Royal Marines Museum, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum and Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower.

Attractions

The following ships are displayed at the dockyard:
The National Museum of the Royal Navy is host to many original Naval artefacts, including one of the original sails from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The Trafalgar Experience is an interactive walk-through gallery detailing the Battle of Trafalgar, ending with a panorama painted by William Lionel Wyllie. Boathouse 4 houses a "Boatbuilding and Heritage Skills Centre".
Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust is responsible for the maintenance and the upkeep of all historic buildings within the heritage footprint of the Historic Dockyard, and operate an ongoing programme of conservation.