Unique museum that's a wonderful asset to town now a step closer to much-anticipated grand reopening

The much-anticipated opening of the only UK dedicated Diving Museum at No 2 Battery in Stokes Bay Road is on track for May this year.

Gosport Borough Council’s regulatory board, on January 28 approved two planning applications. First to erect a fence to the rear of the Grade II listed Victorian gun battery on the seafront.

Second, to allow trunking for cabling to run through the building to carry power.

The fence will be 54m long, 2m high, and made of green mesh. It will protect the site at the back from the mobile home site at Stokes Bay Home Park.

After the meeting, museum director Councillor Kevin Casey (Con, Alverstoke) said: “The fence is to define our boundary and allow the grounds team to work on the site without infringing upon the residents.

“It is a wonderful asset to Gosport and the only dedicated Diving Museum in the UK.”

The fundraising work has been undertaken by the Historic Diving Society, which runs the museum.

Cllr Casey said £1million has been spent on repairs, and now a further £1million will be spent on its refit and redevelopment.

The museum is currently empty, and the next stage is to be fitted with electricity, Wi-Fi, fire, and security systems.

He added: “Next week the fit-out will start, followed by the installation of the display cases and the exhibits ready for an opening in April/May.”

Gosport is the birthplace of the global deep-sea diving industry, with the world’s first deep-sea dive undertaken by the Deane brothers in 1832.

John Deane invented the first diving helmet in 1828 and lived in Gosport for ten years. During that time, he helped discover the Mary Rose.

The last use of the building was as a nuclear bunker by Gosport Borough Council at the height of the Cold War, said Cllr Casey.

For information about these two planning applications reference 25/00320/FULL and 25/00367/LBA go to gosport.gov.uk.