131 Design

Book launch for Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth, April 2015.

Gunwharf Quays is the UK’s premier world class shopping, leisure and residential waterfront development, attracting millions of visitors every year. Few realise that its history began more than 300 years ago when land was reclaimed from Portsmouth Harbour to provide a nationally important wharf for naval and army guns. Portsmouth’s gunwharf was the largest in Britain. Early in the last century it became the HMS Vernon school for torpedoes and mines. In 1996 the site was sold and within five years had been transformed into Gunwharf Quays.

Author Michael Underwood’s experience, as the architect responsible for repairing and conserving historic buildings at Gunwharf Quays during its development, makes him uniquely qualified to tell the story. He has been afforded unparalleled access to documents, maps, plans, drawings and photographs which he brings together for the first time in this fascinating book.

An integral part of the Gunwharf Quays development, the contemporary Marina fits perfectly with Portsmouth’s seafaring heritage.

Originally built as storekeeper’s offices in the early 19^th century, it was constructed on the southern edge of Old Gunwharf, facing the bridge connecting both wharves. Officers and clerks at the time had an excellent view of their valuable guns and stores, and the loading and off-loading operations from hoys and wherries.

For its modest size this is a grand building in a classical style with an elegant central pediment; it was also well-planned for its purpose. The Flemish brickwork has alternating red stretchers and dark kiln-burnt headers, typical of the new buildings at Gunwharf of the time.

With the redevelopment of gunwharf, the Old Customs House is now a fine pub.