THEIR purpose was to safely store military munitions, containing any explosion in bunkers surrounded by moats and five acres of woodland.

Now, more than a century on, auction bidders have a chance to own a piece of the armament history close to Portsmouth Harbour.

The pair of brick and steel cordite magazines, formerly owned by the Ministry of Defence, is among 150 lots being sold by regional land and property auctioneers Clive Emson in May.

With a freehold guide price of £100,000-plus, the former munitions stores at Britannia Way, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport, measure 445 sq m (4,790 sq ft) and 173 sq m (1,862 sq ft) and were decommissioned in 1990.

That was the year Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was replaced by John Major following her resignation.

Rob Marchant, Hampshire auctioneer, said: “We anticipate a bidding war being ignited, if you pardon the pun, because this is a sizable chunk of real estate in Hampshire.

“It’s a rare opportunity to own your own piece of the armament history in a five-acre wooded plot – the premises were used for their original intended purposes from the late 19th Century until 18 years ago.”

He added: “The buildings have scope and potential for a variety of uses, such as storage. Planning consent for conversion to residential accommodation was previously refused by the borough council.

“Close followers of our auctions may well remember the two munitions stores locally going under my gavel four years ago, for £48,000 and £44,000. Since then the owner acquired the surrounding five acres of land.”

Priddy’s Hard became the epicentre of the Royal Navy’s gunpowder stores after concerns were first raised by locals at Old Portsmouth in 1764 – they feared a disaster if the gunpowder, stored since the 1580s in the Square Tower, blew up.

Given that there were 6,000 barrels, within firing range of the Spanish or French, their concerns were not without foundation.

There were other dangers listed in an Ordnance Storekeeper report many years before, in 1716.

He highlighted funerals which “pass by there [and] the sparks of the Links and Torches have been seen to fly against the Magazine Walls and Windows”.

Or a “crowd of drunken, smoking, sailors tending to the Men of Wars boats”.

In the first change of location in 14 years, the Hampshire auction – the 101st – takes place at 11am at the Solent Hotel, Rookery Avenue, Whiteley, near Fareham, on Thursday, May 3rd.

Previous actions were held at the Ageas Bowl.

Last month (March) another property in Gosport sold through Clive Emson – a bidder paid £1,280,000 for a freehold parade of shops and flats at Stokesway, Stoke Road.

Selling for £280,000 above estimate, the premises currently generate £97,650 per annum in rent.

Clive Emson sold land and property worth £22 million at its landmark 200th auction in March, achieving a 74% sale rate after cataloguing 150 lots. Three lots surpassed the £1m mark, including the one in Gosport.

Managing Director James Emson said: “It is no mean feat to have achieved the milestone of our 200th auction in such a competitive market.

“The business has evolved over the years with modern technology at every turn which has been embraced at every stage, including the launch of online auctions and facilities to help the 900-plus estate agency branches that support us.

“Our vendors and purchasers recognise that there is always something for everyone with Clive Emson – that’s why they keep coming back.

“We look forward to our 30th anniversary in 2019 with renewed vigour as we continue to offer the best possible quality and service for every single lot in our catalogue.”