Historic Dockyard

A world-class naval heritage site spanning five centuries of shipbuilding and maritime history.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is the centrepiece of Portsea and one of the most important naval heritage sites in the world. Occupying a substantial portion of the western side of Portsea, the dockyard has been in continuous use since Henry VII established a dry dock here in 1495. For over five centuries it served as a principal building and repair yard for the Royal Navy, producing and maintaining warships that secured British naval supremacy across the globe. The site today houses an extraordinary collection of historic vessels, including HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and HMS Warrior 1860, alongside the National Museum of the Royal Navy and a range of interactive attractions. The older buildings within the dockyard are of considerable architectural interest, spanning Tudor, Georgian and Victorian periods. Marc Isambard Brunel's Block Mills of 1803, the world's first factory to use steam-powered mass production, still stand within the yard. The ropery buildings, storehouses and dry docks tell the story of industrial innovation as much as naval power. Since the working dockyard contracted in the late twentieth century, the heritage area has been developed as a major visitor attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The site is managed by the National Museum of the Royal Navy and remains an active part of Portsmouth's cultural and economic life.