New naval museum in Gosport 'on track' for completion by next year as first pictures are released
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At Priddy’s Hard in Gosport, construction work is under way for the Coastal Forces Museum – a £1m project being run by the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
Once complete, the museum will tell the story of the navy’s coastal forces division, which played a crucial role in the Second World War.
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Hide AdThe division was responsible for some of the more covert Allied operations, from discreet raids on enemy convoys to ferrying around secret agents.
Director of the Coastal Forces Heritage Trust, Simon Haill, said the project is taking ‘great shape’ as first pictures document the progress made.
He said: ‘We’ve been working on-site right the way through the government's lockdown, albeit with the restrictions in place.
‘The building looks tremendous and we’re on track to open for the summer next year.
‘I’m delighted with how things have gone so far.’
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Hide AdThe museum is using P Building at Priddy’s Hard, with construction work due for completion by the end of August.
Inside, visitors will get a tour of static displays that document the stories of coastal forces reservists from the Royal Navy archives.
On the mezzanine level, visitors will get a bird’s eye view of two vessels used by coastal forces during the war – MTB 71, which saw a great deal of action in the Second World War – and CMB 331, the last surviving 55ft coastal motor boat.
Once construction of the museum building is complete, the next task will be to transport the two vessels down to Gosport.
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Hide AdCurrently, both MTB 71 and CMB 331 are being stored in Yeovilton.
Simon Haill, who was a former captain in the Royal Navy, said: ‘We’re planning to move both of the craft down here in September.
‘You can actually fit them into lorries, so it’s a fairly straightforward process.