The Portsmouth Society is a voluntary group interested in preserving the best of Portsmouth's environment: buildings, streets, open spaces and seashore, and in encouraging well designed new buildings and amenities.
We are the local Civic Society, registered with the Civic Trust, which has since 1957 worked towards creating vibrant local environments which people enjoy living and working in.
We are one of a thousand such groups nationally, which promote and celebrate high standards of architecture and planning and public facilities in their area.
We subsist solely on members' subscriptions and donations which allows us to be a genuinely independent body - not an offshoot of any political party or of Portsmouth City Council.
What do we do?
We keep up to date with proposed changes in the city, and advocate new ideas to enhance it, campaigning vigorously in support of the principles we believe in. We keep members informed on local issues, drawing on their knowledge and expertise to put forward the Society's views to decision-makers.
We hold monthly meetings and lectures in the Norrish Central Library, arrange visits to interesting places, and publish a regular newsletter.
In our annual Design Competition we make awards for the best new building, best restoration and best landscaping in the city. Recent award winners include Admiral Lord Nelson School, the University's Portland Building, the Customs House public house at Gunwharf and Landport Community Garden.
Why Join?
Decisions taken now on the shape of the city affect future generations as well as ourselves. Without the voices of local people, including groups like the Society, it is all too easy for these decisions to be based principally on cost considerations rather than on improving the quality of the local environment.
We need your help in putting forward positive views. Only if the Society is known to represent a substantial body of opinion will our voice be listened to. The more people who join the stronger that voice will be.
How is the Society run?
The Society elects annually a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer/Membership Secretary, together with an number of Executive Committee members. The Committee carries out the day to day decision-making.
How do I join?
The Portsmouth Society welcomes new members. You can join the society by coming along to any of our meetings print a membership leaflet which you can send, with your joining fee, to the Membership Secretary.
Click here for a membership form.(To view and print the form you'll need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer; this is available at no charge.)
| Type of Membership | Full | Couple | Senior | Senior couple | Student |
| Annual Subscription | £7 | £10 | £5 | £7 | £5 |
Portsmouth Society Contacts
| Chairman | Celia Clark | 023 9273 2912 |
| Secretary | Roger James | 023 9273 4555 |
| Treasurer / Membership | Jean Thompson | 023 9282 1667 |
| Email enquiries |  |
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