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Haslar Past, Present and Future - 25th November 2022

Published 16:54 on 29 Nov 2022

Ben Lippiett gave us a tantalising snapshot in words, pictures and maps of the place of Haslar Creek in the history of Gosport, the development of the modern marina by Messrs Dean and Reddyhoff and boatfolk's eco-mooring initiative in Studland.

An overview of the significance of Portsmouth Harbour was presented, starting with the Romans and the building of Portchester Castle, through the Norman period and the Tudors with the Mary Rose and on to Palmerston's ring of fortifications around Portsmouth Harbour. Locally, mention was made of Charles II establishing Gosport's ramparts which can still be seen today together with the original Fort Blockhouse with the submariners chapel on the fortifications. The development of Haslar Hospital in 1753 at the head of the creek was highlighted together with the steps to keep patients (inmates?) from escaping only to be picked up by the press gangs lurking around Beaminster Lane! The first of several Haslar bridges was built in 1753. The early bridges had a toll booth at the Gosport end. By 1944 a new bridge with more air draft was needed and the legendary "pneumonia" bridge was built on top of its predecessor, this lasted until the 1980's when it was replaced with bridge we now know.

In 1979, John Dean with Peter Dyball, of Dean & Dyball, took over an ailing shipyard which was developed into the first modern, purpose built marina at Shamrock Quay complete with chandlery, restaurant and the facilities we now all expect to see in a marina. This was managed by Richard Reddyhoff, whom John Dean had found laminating boats in Poole and saw his potential. This was followed by a number of marina developments including Ocean Village, Queen Anne's Battery and Millbay, with the largest endeavour creating Hythe Marina Village, project managed by Richard Reddyhoff. MDL purchased the Dean & Dyball in 1989, with John and Richard staying on for an agreed three period. Both of them were released in the summer of 1992.

In the early 1980's the Chris Haddock (of Gosport Boatyard fame) Crown Estates had identified a development opportunity in Haslar Creek and in 1983 the first ideas of a marina in the creek were floated. However, the finance was not forthcoming and the Crown Estates were only offering a limited lease. Enter John Dean and Richard Reddyhoff who took over the challenge. A more favourable lease was agreed and signed in October 1992 and construction started with the moving of 350,000 cubic metres of spoil. During this period the legendary Rear Admiral Sir Charles Williams smoothed the ruffled feathers of the RNSA and RAYC and by 1993 the first phase the first berth holders started to arrive. The wave screen and Lightship followed quickly thereafter and by 1994 the marina was essentially complete the rest is history.

The development of Portland Marina proved a major financial challenge for the company, coinciding as it did with the financial crash of 2008. Although the company survived, Haslar lost out on investment to replace the failing wave screen boards, dredge the marina, refurbish tired washrooms, and replace old electrics etc... In 2015 John Dean and Richard Reddyhoff sold most of their shares to London based company, Mansfords. This restructuring led to much needed investment flowing into Haslar Marina. The company then went on to acquire Deacons Marina, and then acquire Quay Marinas. It was following what was named a merger with Quay Marinas, that a new company name sought, leading to the renaming of the company to boatfolk in April 2020.

In 2021 boatfolk teamed up with the Seahorse Trust to develop the eco friendly moorings for use in the Marine Conservation Zone in Studland Bay as part of plan to protect the local seahorse population. These moorings, based on a US design, are designed to prevent scouring of the seagrass beds which provide the habitat in which seahorses thrive. So far, boatfolk have installed 10 such moorings but are looking to install a further 77 over the next few years.

And to the future, the marina extension and redevelopment work continues with completion due next year. Several minor design changes have been implemented as the development has progressed, unfortunately, including the loss of the proposed fuelling berth. Having got all the permissions in place from KHM etc, the scheme has been scuppered by the Highways Agency refusing permission for a road fuel delivery point. The marina will continue to see if there are other areas/ ways in which they can try to make this happen. The long awaited new shoreside restaurant is opening on 1^st December and the Mary Mouse is due back on its moorings before Christmas (although unlikely to open until the Easter).

Boatfolk have now been granted a short-term rolling lease by the Crown Estates for Haslar Lake (the area above the bridge). Whilst the mudflats will remain as an area of Special Site of Scientific Interest, the plan is to clean up the wrecks and refurbish the area with new pontoons and pile moorings.

So, we can look forward to an exciting future for Haslar Marina and hopefully persuade Ben to come back and share more stories and pictures of Gosport then and now.

To round off a very successful presentation there was an opportunity to preview the new Creek Restaurant. From my personal perspective, an attractive venue with good food and wine I look forward to making a lot of use of it in the future!

Peter Metcalf

(The HYC meeting was held for the first time in Haslar Marina Unit 2)