Building MPM614 - BRANDON COURT FLATS

Former Nazareth House built 1887/88, designed by Leonard Stokes. Now Brandon Court flats. The building in Lawrence Road was one of many Nazareth Houses in towns and cities around the country administered by the Sisters of Nazareth. The building comprised a convent, orphanage with school and home for the aged poor. A Nazareth House had originally been established in 'Lynwood', Wilson Grove Southsea, in 1883, and moved to the new purpose built premises in Lawrence Road in April 1888. [1, 2]

Orphan girls were evacuated to Melchett Court near Romsey during WW2 and the building was used as an annexe to St Mary's Hospital until May 1948. The girls returned in 1949. [3] The home closed in 1981 [4] and the building was converted into flats c1985. The building received the Portsmouth Society award for "best restoration" in 1987 [5].

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

<1> Higginbotham, Peter, 2017, Nazareth House, Southsea, Hampshire (Bibliographic reference). SPM473.

<2> Portsmouth Evening News, 1888, Portsmouth Evening News (Bibliographic reference). SPM474.

<3> Portsmouth Evening News, 1949, Portsmouth Evening News (Bibliographic reference). SPM472.

<4> The News, 1981, The News (Bibliographic reference). SPM475.

<5> Portsmouth Society, 1987, Portsmouth Society 5th Annual Design Awards (Bibliographic reference). SPM476.