The restoration of No. 2 Battery is coming to a close and soon work will commence on preparing the internal galleries.
Since our last news update:
The access path at the front of the museum has been laid and the ground prepared for landscaping. New railings with lights have been installed at the steps to the front door.
The path to the outside exhibits has been tarmacked and the the gradient of the adjacent bank reduced to make it safe.
On top of the Battery new steel doors have been installed on one of the gun emplacements – the ones on the western gun emplacement have been left as they were for comparison.
Inside, the floor has been boarded so that there is ramp free access throughout the eastern part of the building. The steel girders supporting the ceiling have all been painted. New extractor ducting has been installed in two of the rooms to ensure good air flow throughout the building.
And finally, the lift to enable wheelchair access to the museum has arrived. It is still crated up and ready to be installed but it will be an exciting new addition to the building once it is installed.
The final touches to the building itself should take place in the next few weeks and then work will begin on the interior galleries for which we need to raise match funding of £15,000.
If you have not already done so, please consider making a donation online, or contact us on appeal@thehds.com
THANK YOU!
The work that is being carried out at No. 2 Battery is funded by:
The Arts Council England
Historic England
Gosport Borough Council
Hampshire County Council
and
The Heritage Fund
Handrails have been installed on the steps to the front door
Front view of the museum, showing the tarmac disabled access path which zigzags across the steps leading to the front door
The path leading to the exhibits has been tarmacked and the gradient of the adjacent slope reduced.
The path in front of the outdoor exhibits has been tarmacked
One of the gun emplacements
Interior of a gun emplacement
Doors on the western gun emplacement in the condition they were in before restoration
New steel doors have been added to the eastern gun emplacement
New red doors have been added, even to the smallest of compartments
Original, restored steel door
The steel girders in the ceiling have been cleaned and painted
Ducting for extractor fans is being installed.
Progress at the back of the building; one casemate remains to be cleared.
The lift for the front door has arrived!