Tudor to modern era living history
as part of the Royal Navy's huge Meet your Navy event at
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Victory Gate, H.M. Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 4LJ. Tel: 023 9283 9766.
Historic and modern ships & boats - living history - displays - entertainments - lots to see and do!
A
huge success! 35,000 people flocked to Meet
your Navy, a fantastic 3 day Royal Navy maritime event including multi-era displays and entertainments at
perhaps the world's most famous
dockyard, which first began building and
refitting ships for the English navy over 800 years ago. Visitors discovered the past,
present and future of the Royal Navy, accessing areas not
normally open to the public, clambered all over 16 ships including the aircraft
carrier HMS illustrious, met the crews of the modern
fleet, marvelled at the dynamic (and sometimes daring!) displays and were entertained
by a host of characters. Over three days visitors experienced the sights and sounds of life at the
dockyard down the centuries whilst being thrilled by the navy of today.
EventPlan arranged and co-ordinated the Tudor to 1980s re-enactors and displays at this amazing event. Visitors enjoyed arena and living history displays throughout each day, including crewmen on board HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and HMS Monitor M33, as well as Nelsonian sailors out in the harbour, rowing a cutter and launch, with the latter firing their bow gun. In addition there were talks, children's entertainments, have a go activities and more...indeed, many visitors came for more than one day as it was absolutely impossible to see everything during just one visit. The magnificent backdrop of HMS Victory was a perfect spot for the historical event arena.
All the usual dockyard displays, museums, facilities, shops and catering were open as normal.
Historical performers
The line up of historical performers included;
Tudor: The Tudor Group (Saturday/Sunday)
C18th: The Senior Service and Earley Days
Nelsonian era: The Victory Cutter, Victory Rigger , 2nd Battalion 95th Rifles, Ancient Wisdom and The Historical Maritime Society
Victorian: The Fort Cumberland Guard (Saturday only) and The Festival Players
WWI: The Bluejackets
1980s-modern: Forces 80
Living history groups and other performers interested in taking part in our events are invited to contact us for further details and click the link for our Standard terms and conditions for participation. WWII allied military vehicle owners (particularly naval) and civilian 40s enthusiasts are warmly invited, but please note that pre-registration with EventPlan is essential.
Admission prices
Groups of 15 or more save 10% by calling 023 9283 9766
Appropriate traders were in abundance. Click for further details of trading opportunities at other EventPlan events.
Visiting Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Even when there isn't an even on, the dockyard represents a truly amazing day out! Click for
details including of course the Mary Rose ship hall, the Mary Rose museum, Action Stations, The Royal Naval Museum and Dockyard Apprentice Exhibition.How to get there
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is located within Portsmouth Naval Base with entry through Victory Gate at the corner of Queen Street and the Hard.
By Road:
RAC
Route Planner or
The AA
(recommended)
The Historic Dockyard is less than 5 miles from Junction 12 of the M27. Follow
the brown Historic Waterfront signs from the M27 and join the M275 into
Portsmouth.
Parking: There are various car parks within a short walk of the dockyard.
By Coach, Bus and Rail: Portsmouth Harbour Station / Hard Interchange coach and bus station is a few minutes walk from Victory Gate.
Rail: London Waterloo Station to Portsmouth Harbour Station is only a 90 minute journey and these run frequently. There are also regular services to and from Southampton Central with links to the South West and the West country. For timetable details please use the links below.
Coaches: Coach parking-TBC . The majority of national coach services to Portsmouth stop at the Hard Interchange (adjacent to Dockyard entrance).
Bus: Many local and regional
bus services stop at the Hard Interchange (adjacent to Dockyard entrance).
Please visit
First Bus,
Stagecoach or
Solent Blue Line
bus services for the most up to date routes and timetables.
Links: National
Rail Enquiries -
South West Trains (bookings and timetables)
By Sea:
Ferry services operate from France, Spain, the Isle of Wight and Gosport on a regular basis.
Links: P&0 Portsmouth Ferries Wightlink Ferries
Open a window to see a
regional map
Download a pdf file of the
location map
If you have any further queries regarding getting to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, please telephone the Tourist Information Centre on 023 9282 6722.
A brief history of re-enactment
Interested in how and why re-enactment has become so popular in recent years? Click on the link to read a history of re-enactment.
Other events 2008
Click here for details of many other historical events organised by EventPlan during 2007.
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Updated 31 July 2008