Monument MPM1973 - Architectural Fragment, Portsmouth Museum Garden

Architectural stone fragment, probably from Victoria Barracks. The stone has been built into a 1970s brick wall in the back garden of Portsmouth Museum. It is carved with a cinquefoil design and has a VR monogram with the date 1894.

Architectural stone fragment built into the south-west wall in the back garden of Portsmouth Museum. It is likely the fragment was removed from Victoria Barracks c1966 prior to its demolition. It was built into the garden wall when it was constructed in the early-1970s. The stone is largely circular in form and is carved with a cinquefoil design. Three of the arcs have a thistle, rose and clover, representing Scotland, England and Ireland. In the centre is the monogram VR (Victoria Regina) surmounted by a crown, beneath which is the date 1894. [HER Officer]

An article in the Portsmouth Evening News for the 29th September 1966 reported that 'armorial bearings' at the gable ends of Victoria Barracks were to be dismantled by the City Architect's Department prior to demolition and incorporated as features at the site. The article includes a photograph of what appears to be the triangular pediment in the museum garden (MPM1972). It is therefore likely that this feature was also removed from the barracks. [1]

The City Council minutes for a meeting on the 29th June 1971 reported that materials from the demolition of Hardy House and Duchess of Kent Barracks were to be saved for re-use at the City Museum and Art Gallery, the Archival stores (former City Record Office building) and other buildings as appropriate. Therefore, it is also possible the stone may have been removed from one of these buildings, although Victoria Barracks is more likely. [2]

<1> Evening News, 1966, Evening News (Bibliographic reference). SPM575.

<2> Portsmouth City Council, 1971, Portsmouth City Council Minutes (Bibliographic reference). SPM573.