Building MPM477 - GATCOMBE HOUSE

Former large country house built 1780-1800, with late-19th century additions. Post-1816 used as the offices mess for Hilsea Barracks. Became a students hostel for Marine Engineers studying at Highbury College in the 1960s, now offices. Restored and altered c1984/5.

Large country house, later offices for the former Hilsea Barracks, still later students hostel, now builders offices. 1780-1800, additional wings 1887. Restored and altered c1985. Yellow brick in Flemish bond, stone dressings. 3 Welsh slated hipped roofs, brick stack at right of centre wing and right of right wing. T-shaped plan. EXTERIOR: 10 bays (3:5:3) 3 storeys. Centre part of 5 bays projects. Top 2 storeys of north wing added 1985. At centre 4 stone steps approach a recessed half glazed 9-pane door, fanlight with patterned radial glazing set under round brick arch, panelled reveals and soffits. Doorway has flanking stone engaged Roman Ionic columns, broken entablature and open dentilled pediment. On left and right is a 1-storey C19 rectangular brick bay each with 2 front sashes and 1 sash to each return set under flat gauged brick arches, brick dentil band and stone coped parapet. Each of the left and right recessed wings has three 9-pane sashes. On first floor are eleven 12-pane sashes and on second floor eleven 6-pane sashes, each sash set under flat gauged brick arch with stone sill; brick dentil band and stone coped parapet. Rear elevation includes 3 and 2-storey red brick extensions, altered c1985. (Lloyd DW: Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs: Portsmouth: 1974-: 26, 28, 31, 153; The Buildings of England: Lloyd D: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Harmondsworth: 1967-: 430).

Selected Sources
Book Reference - Author: Lloyd, D W - Title: Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs - Date: 1974 - Page References: 26,28,31
Book Reference - Author: Lloyd, D W - Title: Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs - Date: 1974 - Page References: 153
Book Reference - Author: Pevsner, N - Title: The Buildings of England: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - Date: 1967 - Page References: 430

[1]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Late 18th century house with a timber framed building hidden in its rear wing. Once the home of Admiral Sir Roger Curtis, the Commander-in-Chief in Portsmouth in 1809. Following Curtis' death in 1816 the estate was compulsorily purchased by the War Office for use as the Officer's mess for Hilsea Barracks.

The three principal elevations are faced with Beaulieu bricks, the north elevation and rear wing with Hampshire red brick. The western front of the façade was altered in 1877. The main block was extended south to provide additional officers accomadation, and a new billiard room was built at its north end. An archway was discovered during the building work, but was covered by a new brick wall which was built adjacent to the north boundary wall. The archway was re-discovered during renovation work in the 1980s.

Extensive restoration work carried out on the house, adjacent coach-house, external works and new boundary walls, railings and gates in the 1980s. Work in the courtyard revealed an archway, which was thought to be 16th century in date. It is possible the stone for the archway came from an earlier building on the site which is marked on Speed's map of 1611, called 'Little Gatcombe'.

[2]

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

<2> Hampshire County Council, 1986, Archaeology in Hampshire Annual Report for 1984-1985 (Bibliographic reference). SPM194.