Gunwharf Quays is a shopping centre located in the Portsea area of the city of Portsmouth in England. It was constructed in the early 21st century on the site of what had once been HM Gunwharf, Portsmouth. This was one of several such facilities which were established around Britain and the Empire by the Board of Ordnance, where cannons, ammunition and other armaments were stored, repaired and serviced ready for use on land or at sea. Later known as HMS Vernon, the military site closed in 1995, and opened to the public as Gunwharf Quays on 28 February 2001[1] after six years of reconstruction (which included the restoration of some of the surviving 18th and 19th-century Gun Wharf buildings). The landmark Spinnaker Tower, which stands close to the site on pilings in Portsmouth Harbour, was opened on 18 October 2005.[2]
The 'Gun Wharfe' (Old Gun Wharf) in 1750, from a map drawn by J. P. Desmaretz.
An Ordnance Yard (the Old Gun Wharf) was established on land reclaimed from the sea to the north of the old Mill Pond (which survives today as the canal) in 1706.[3] The site was extended by reclaiming further land from the sea to the south of the old Mill Pond to create the New Gun Wharf in circa 1800.[3] The Grand Storehouse (built as part the New Gun Wharf and now known as the Vulcan Building) was completed in 1814.[3]
Central section of the Grand Storehouse of 1814.
A wide range of ordnance-related equipment had to be accommodated within the Yard. Gun carriages in particular took up a lot of space, and were prone to decay if left outside. Cannons and cannonballs, on the other hand, could be stored in the open air without too much damage being done, as described here in 1817:
Every ship in ordinary has on the wharf her guns, placed in regular rows, each ship's guns by themselves, with the name of the ship they belong to, painted in capital letters on the first gun of each parcel. The balls are formed in pyramids from 42 pounders to the lowest bores, every size in a pyramid by themselves; the bomb shells are also placed in the same regular order.[4]
In 1824 a set of storehouses along the southern edge of the site were converted to form barracks for the Royal Marine Artillery (the first time that this section of the Corps had been provided with its own separate barracks). In 1858 the Royal Marine Artillery moved out (first to Fort Cumberland, then to the new purpose-built Eastney Barracks);[5] Gunwharf Barracks were then given over to the Royal Artillery for a time,[6] after which they were occupied by the Army Ordnance Corps until 1891.[7]
The Grand Storehouse was mirrored by a similarly sizeable "Sea Service Store" on the Old Gun Wharf (later remodelled to serve as the Warrior naval accommodation block). In addition to these two, a plan dated 1859 indicates more than a dozen other large storehouses all around the site.[8]
As ships and armaments developed, the requirement to offload the armament diminished, and the Gunwharf fell into disuse. It re-established as the Royal Navy shore establishment HMS Vernon in 1923.[9] The site became HMS Nelson in 1986 and ceased operations in 1995.[5]
The site was then sold to Berkeley Group Holdings in 1996 and, after being redeveloped to a design by HGP Architects, re-opened as a retail outlet on 28 February 2001.[5]
Retained historic buildings and structures
Map of 1773 showing the Gun Wharf jutting into the harbour, just north of the entrance to the Mill Pond
HMS Vernon suffered extensive damage during the Blitz, but a number of historic structures survived, some of which have been restored as part of the Gunwharf Quays development.
The Old Customs House pub and restaurant, built as an administration block in the late 18th century, is the oldest building on the site and the only significant survival on the Old Gun Wharf side.[10]
An early 19th-century gateway stands behind the Vulcan building, indicating the line of the original boundary of the New Gun Wharf;[11] Initially hemmed in by the fortifications of Old Portsmouth, the site expanded further when the town fortifications were levelled in the 1870s; much of the later perimeter wall, which dates from this expansion, remains in place around the edge of the site, along with the Main Gate of c.1870.[12]
The Grand Storehouse (later called the Vulcan Building) was the principal structure on the New Gun Wharf, built 1811–14. Its north wing and clock tower were both destroyed in the Blitz and only reinstated as part of the Gunwharf Quays reconstruction.[13]
The old Royal Marines Infirmary building was originally built as an Ordnance Storehouse at around the same time as the Vulcan block; together with other nearby storehouses it was converted to form Gunwharf Barracks, of which it is the only surviving part.[14]
Behind the Vulcan building, and dwarfed by it, is a former shell store (Building No. 25) dating from 1856.[13]
Canalside looking towards the Plaza. The small roofed building right of centre was a guardhouse for the bridge which linked the two halves of the site.
Ordnance Yard administration block (1770s)
Former Ordnance Storehouse (aka Vulcan building) (1814)
Former gatehouse and perimeter wall (1870s)
Lodge and guardhouse inside the Main Gate
Former Royal Marine Infirmary (c.1814) within the perimeter wall
Quayside crane
Preserved figurehead from HMS Marlborough, which latterly served as an accommodation hulk for HMS Vernon.
Figurehead from the original (1832) ship HMS Vernon.
^The New Portsmouth Guide, Containing a Full Description of the Island and Its Environs, Together with the Dock-yard, Gun-wharf, and Royal Clarence Victualling Establishment (11th ed.). Portsmouth: William Henry Charpentier. 1860. p. 68.
^Underwood, Michael (2015). Gunwharf Quays: The History, Architecture, Conservation and Development of a Remarkable Military Site. Portsmouth: Tricorn Books.
^"Plan of Gunwharf 1859". Minewarfare & Clearance Diving Officers' Association.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gunwharf Quays.
Gunwharf Quays Outlet Stores
April 05, 2023
gunwharf, quays, shopping, centre, located, portsea, area, city, portsmouth, england, constructed, early, 21st, century, site, what, once, been, gunwharf, portsmouth, this, several, such, facilities, which, were, established, around, britain, empire, board, or. Gunwharf Quays is a shopping centre located in the Portsea area of the city of Portsmouth in England It was constructed in the early 21st century on the site of what had once been HM Gunwharf Portsmouth This was one of several such facilities which were established around Britain and the Empire by the Board of Ordnance where cannons ammunition and other armaments were stored repaired and serviced ready for use on land or at sea Later known as HMS Vernon the military site closed in 1995 and opened to the public as Gunwharf Quays on 28 February 2001 1 after six years of reconstruction which included the restoration of some of the surviving 18th and 19th century Gun Wharf buildings The landmark Spinnaker Tower which stands close to the site on pilings in Portsmouth Harbour was opened on 18 October 2005 2 Gunwharf QuaysThe East Plaza at Gunwharf QuaysLocationPortsmouth Hampshire EnglandCoordinates50 47 42 N 1 06 21 W 50 7949 N 1 1058 W 50 7949 1 1058 Coordinates 50 47 42 N 1 06 21 W 50 7949 N 1 1058 W 50 7949 1 1058OwnerLand SecuritiesNo of stores and services93 plus a cinema 25 pubs and restaurantsNo of floors2Websitegunwharf quays wbr com Contents 1 History 1 1 Retained historic buildings and structures 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory Edit The Gun Wharfe Old Gun Wharf in 1750 from a map drawn by J P Desmaretz An Ordnance Yard the Old Gun Wharf was established on land reclaimed from the sea to the north of the old Mill Pond which survives today as the canal in 1706 3 The site was extended by reclaiming further land from the sea to the south of the old Mill Pond to create the New Gun Wharf in circa 1800 3 The Grand Storehouse built as part the New Gun Wharf and now known as the Vulcan Building was completed in 1814 3 Central section of the Grand Storehouse of 1814 A wide range of ordnance related equipment had to be accommodated within the Yard Gun carriages in particular took up a lot of space and were prone to decay if left outside Cannons and cannonballs on the other hand could be stored in the open air without too much damage being done as described here in 1817 Every ship in ordinary has on the wharf her guns placed in regular rows each ship s guns by themselves with the name of the ship they belong to painted in capital letters on the first gun of each parcel The balls are formed in pyramids from 42 pounders to the lowest bores every size in a pyramid by themselves the bomb shells are also placed in the same regular order 4 In 1824 a set of storehouses along the southern edge of the site were converted to form barracks for the Royal Marine Artillery the first time that this section of the Corps had been provided with its own separate barracks In 1858 the Royal Marine Artillery moved out first to Fort Cumberland then to the new purpose built Eastney Barracks 5 Gunwharf Barracks were then given over to the Royal Artillery for a time 6 after which they were occupied by the Army Ordnance Corps until 1891 7 The Grand Storehouse was mirrored by a similarly sizeable Sea Service Store on the Old Gun Wharf later remodelled to serve as the Warrior naval accommodation block In addition to these two a plan dated 1859 indicates more than a dozen other large storehouses all around the site 8 As ships and armaments developed the requirement to offload the armament diminished and the Gunwharf fell into disuse It re established as the Royal Navy shore establishment HMS Vernon in 1923 9 The site became HMS Nelson in 1986 and ceased operations in 1995 5 The site was then sold to Berkeley Group Holdings in 1996 and after being redeveloped to a design by HGP Architects re opened as a retail outlet on 28 February 2001 5 Retained historic buildings and structures Edit Map of 1773 showing the Gun Wharf jutting into the harbour just north of the entrance to the Mill Pond HMS Vernon suffered extensive damage during the Blitz but a number of historic structures survived some of which have been restored as part of the Gunwharf Quays development The Old Customs House pub and restaurant built as an administration block in the late 18th century is the oldest building on the site and the only significant survival on the Old Gun Wharf side 10 An early 19th century gateway stands behind the Vulcan building indicating the line of the original boundary of the New Gun Wharf 11 Initially hemmed in by the fortifications of Old Portsmouth the site expanded further when the town fortifications were levelled in the 1870s much of the later perimeter wall which dates from this expansion remains in place around the edge of the site along with the Main Gate of c 1870 12 The Grand Storehouse later called the Vulcan Building was the principal structure on the New Gun Wharf built 1811 14 Its north wing and clock tower were both destroyed in the Blitz and only reinstated as part of the Gunwharf Quays reconstruction 13 The old Royal Marines Infirmary building was originally built as an Ordnance Storehouse at around the same time as the Vulcan block together with other nearby storehouses it was converted to form Gunwharf Barracks of which it is the only surviving part 14 Behind the Vulcan building and dwarfed by it is a former shell store Building No 25 dating from 1856 13 Canalside looking towards the Plaza The small roofed building right of centre was a guardhouse for the bridge which linked the two halves of the site Ordnance Yard administration block 1770s Former Ordnance Storehouse aka Vulcan building 1814 Former gatehouse and perimeter wall 1870s Lodge and guardhouse inside the Main Gate Former Royal Marine Infirmary c 1814 within the perimeter wall Quayside crane Preserved figurehead from HMS Marlborough which latterly served as an accommodation hulk for HMS Vernon Figurehead from the original 1832 ship HMS Vernon Gunwharf Quays viewed from the water See also Edit Transport portalPortsmouth Berkeley Group plc Land SecuritiesReferences Edit New era dawns for Portsmouth as Gunwharf quays opens www portsmouth co uk History amp Construction Emirates Spinnaker Tower a b c The Origins of Gunwharf and HMS Vernon History in Portsmouth Retrieved 12 July 2019 Allen Lake 1817 The History of Portsmouth London Hatfield amp co a b c Groombridge Garth 2017 Portsmouth in 50 Buildings Amberley Publishing ISBN 978 1445664064 The New Portsmouth Guide Containing a Full Description of the Island and Its Environs Together with the Dock yard Gun wharf and Royal Clarence Victualling Establishment 11th ed Portsmouth William Henry Charpentier 1860 p 68 Underwood Michael 2015 Gunwharf Quays The History Architecture Conservation and Development of a Remarkable Military Site Portsmouth Tricorn Books Plan of Gunwharf 1859 Minewarfare amp Clearance Diving Officers Association HMS Vernon Retrieved 7 April 2017 Historic England HMS Nelson Building number 58 1245373 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 1 October 2015 Historic England Former Gunwharf Gateway and walls of approximately 3 meters to north 38 meters to south 1378580 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 1 October 2015 Historic England Perimeter walls with gateways including former main gate and lodges 1333204 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 1 October 2015 a b Historic England Vulcan Block Building number 21 and attached bollards 1104329 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 1 October 2015 Historic England Building number 47 The Royal Marines Infirmary 1378579 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 1 October 2015 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth City Guide Gunwharf Quays Outlet Stores Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gunwharf Quays amp oldid 1093239145, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
