Building MPM816 - LONG ROW (BUILDING NUMBERS 1/124-132) AND ATTACHED WALLS SPITHEAD HOUSE

Terrace of 9 dockyard officials' houses with attached garden walls. Built 1715-19, probably by the master shipwright. The porches were added c. 1833. The south end was remodelled in 1832 to form the residence of the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard. Part of the terrace is on the site of the old moat and fishponds dating to reconstructions in 1665/6. The garden of No.9 includes part of the original Commissioner's garden of 1666 and some of the dockyard moat of the same period. One of the fine series of dockyard terraces which show a very early development of composed palace fronts to a terrace. This is a significant design in a national context of the development of the terraced house. The terrace is now part offices and part accommodation. [1]

In 1992 a watching brief was carried out on the excavation of 5 tree holes in the garden of No.1 The Parade. The remains of a garden with flower beds and paths was revealed in the layers within the tree holes. This comprised an upper layer of topsoil up to 250mm thick, which covered a lower garden soil in two of the holes, and came down on to cleanish gravel in two others. In the remaining hole, dumps of dirty gravel and cement coloured soil formed a layer up to 250mm thick over the lower soil. Below the dumps, on it's northern edge, the lower soil appeared to be cut by a greyish brown layer. [2]

A drawing of the gardens dated 1788, shows what appear to be narrow borders at either side of each garden, and a central grassed area, again with borders at either side. In a report written in 1992 it was noted that a mound in the garden of No. 9 covered an ice house dating to c. 1840. [3]

Busby, B, 2001, Centre for Archaeology Project 3460 Portsmouth Dockyard: No. 1 The Parade Garden and the 2SL Cincnavhome Newbuild (Unpublished document). SPM238.

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

<3> Property Services Agency, 1992, HMNB Portsmouth Gardens Behind the Parade (Unpublished document). SPM239.