Reported sightings of ghosts and stories of gory deaths at the former armaments depot of Priddy’s Hard have been researched by staff at Explosion! the Museum of Naval Firepower.

The investigations were undertaken to prepare for a series of ghost walks at the Gosport museum site – and the idea has proved so popular that the January and February walks had sold out before the end of last year.

A trawl through the record books has uncovered a dozen bloody deaths at the historic buildings, which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

Research Assistant Ian Proctor said: “I have been amazed by the disturbing tales of death and disease that have happened over the centuries here at Priddy’s Hard.

“The untimely deaths have happened as a result of accidental explosions, and in one case an ‘unnatural’ gust of wind, rumoured to be the evil spirit of a convict labourer who died in the same spot.

“Sightings of many of the unfortunate souls have been rumoured by former workers of the Royal Navy Armaments Depot.

“It has been reported that the stain of munitions worker Edward George McBride, who was killed in a blast on November 30 1922, reappears on the wall of the room that stood directly over the site of the explosion.”

Another of the uncovered fatal explosions is the story of eight men who on July 26, 1921, were moving unusable detonators from a 19th century powder magazine when the direct sunlight turned the pile of devices into a ball of fire, killing four Gosport men.

The detonation was said to be so violent that it could be felt on the Portsmouth side of the harbour.

The bodies of two of the men were utterly destroyed by the blast, and after an extensive search nothing could be found of their remains.

Research has shown that a couple of months later a fisherman found the bones of a human finger in the gut of a locally-caught bass.

Although the Ghost Walks at Explosion are sold out this month, more events are planned for the autumn.

For more information, telephone 023 9250 5600 or see the website at www.explosion.org.uk