Building MPM1539 - TRAFALGAR HOUSE, EDINBURGH ROAD

Former Trafalgar House Services Club and YMCA. Circa late-19th century. Mural painting by Eric Rimmington dated 1948 on the ground floor at the rear of the building in the former lounge of the services club. [1] The mural depicts local people in 1949 standing in Portsmouth and Southsea Station, including sailors, women and children. In the background is a panorama showing the Vikings, Henry VIII's fleet, Portsmouth Cathedral, Portsmouth High Street in the 18th century, and 19th century Southsea Common. Eric Rimmington was an ex-service student at the Southern College of Art, Portsmouth, between 1947 and 1949. [2]

The foundation stone was laid in June 1886, and the premises were used as a YMCA until c. 1895 when the building was sold by auction. The offices of the Southern Daily Mail were based there from 1898 until c. 1900. The premises then became the Trafalgar Church of England Soldiers and Sailors Institute from c. 1906, later becoming known as The Trafalgar Services Club. Between 1985 and 2002 the building was used as halls of residence for the Portsmouth Polytechnic. In 2002 the premises were bought by the J.D. Weatherspoons pub chain, and the mural was moved to the bar where it was placed behind glass. [3]

<1> Historic England, The National Heritage List for England (Index). SPM35.

<2> Rimmington, Eric, 2002, The mural in Trafalgar House, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth (Digital archive). SPM276.

<3> Pomeroy, Stephen, 2014, Pomeroy's of Portsmouth
Pomeroy's of Portsmouth (Britain's Island & Twin Cathedral City) (Bibliographic reference). SPM277.