Building MPM703 - BRANKESMERE AND ATTACHED WALLS AND PIERS

Built in 1895-6 as the family home of Henry Brickwood, Designed by AE Cogswell. The house has had various uses during it's history, including as a First World War hospital and the headquarters of the Portsmouth Borough Police force.

Brankesmere house was built in 1895-96 as the family home of Henry Brickwood, the owner of Brickwoods Brewery. It was designed by the well known local architect AE Cogswell [1]. The house was loaned to the Red Cross during the First World War for use as a hospital to treat wounded servicemen returning from the front. In 1923 it became the Byculla Residential and Day School for Girls, which operated until the pupils were evacuated at the start of the Second World War [2+3]. The Portsmouth Borough Police subsequently moved in on the 1st December 1940, and the house was used as their Headquarters until the force became part of the new Hampshire Constabulary formed in 1967 [3]. In 1976 the premises were in use as a police training school [2]. The building was later used by Social Services.

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

<2> 1800s - 1976, Kelly's Street Directories (Bibliographic reference). SPM38.

<3> Hampshire Telegraph, 1946, Hampshire Telegraph (Bibliographic reference). SPM186.