On Saturday, 18 June, the Portsmouth Society held a tour of the city to view recent buildings of interest, going inside some by prior arrangement. The idea of a tour had been inspired by the Society's annual award scheme: it was buildings that had achieved either plaque-status or short-listing that determined the itinerary.
The vehicle chosen for the tour was Eastbourne Corporation A.E.C. No.42 (AHC442) of 1950, one in the (former) Broad Street collection, still in the ownership of Clive Wilkin, but garaged at present near Warnford. Our driver and conductor for the day were Pat Saunders and Brian Jones. The beautifully maintained vehicle performed to perfection. Over 50 people came on the tour. Guides were Roger James (lower saloon) and Deane Clark (upper saloon). Departure was from Guildhall at 0930, the return to this point at 1230 fulfilling our prediction of a 3-hour tour with impressive accuracy.
The route taken was one of great complexity. Setting out along Winston Churchill Avenue we passed University House, runner-up in Best New Building category for 1988. Having travelled along Goldsmith Avenue to Locksway Road we took the 'bus into the grounds of St. James's Hospital though it could do no more than go up and down the main entrance drive. Using the 'bus-only one-way road to Moorings Way, we passed the early municipal dump en route to Eastern Road for an arranged visit to Admiral Lord Nelson School, winner of the 1998 Best New Building award. Here, leading off from the spacious foyer, we had the chance to peer into some of the adjoining rooms, some activities were actually in progress during our visit.
Moving to Quatermaine Road, we saw the recently commissioned Incinerator, a winner of the 2005 Best New Building award. On Eastern Road we saw the Portsmouth Motor Park, winner of the Best New Building for 1999, now an established part of the local landscape. Returning into the city we had a brief glance at Milton Cross school (where we had been denied a visit) followed by a view of St. Mary's House, a reminder of the successful 1987 campaign that spared it from demolition. Now beautifully restored, it achieved Best Restoration winner in 1992. Moving on to Lake Road, the tour called at the Charles Dickens Community Centre, where the second arranged visit took place. Joint winner of the 2004 Best New Building award, the staff could not have been more helpful, providing an extensive, guided tour.
From Lake Road, the tour proceeded along Market Way. Here, reference to the large new car park prompted mixed memories of the controversial Tricorn and its recent demolition. We passed St. John's Catholic Cathedral (Best Restoration in 2001) and Art in the Park (Best Restoration 2003). The tour came temporarily to rest at the Portland Building, winner of the 1997 Best New Building award, for an appreciation of its spacious atrium. Here, the welcome surprise of refreshment was on offer – gladly accepted.
The final part of the tour took the 'bus past the Frewen Library – recipient of Best Building award in 1991 and twenty year award – en route to Broad Street, to view the other joint winner of Best New Building award for 2004, Spinnaker Quay, on the site of the former Lucas premises. Returning to Guildhall brought to a conclusion this memorable tour of the city, enhanced by excellent weather – brilliant sunshine throughout – and the cosy ambiance of a 1950s 'bus.
For the record, other buildings of note that have, at one time or another, attracted the interest of the Portsmouth Society, and which received mention on the tour were:
New Theatre Royal, University Sports Hall (2004 award entry), Students' Union (Best New Building 2002), Bridge Tavern (runner-up, Best Restoration 1988), Portsmouth cathedral extension (Certificate of Merit in the 1992 Design competition), HMS Temeraire (Best Restoration 1986) and Sports Centre (Best New Building 1990), Milldam House (Best Restoration 1994), HMS Nelson Gymnasium and Clock Tower (Best Restoration 1997), Copnor Junior school extension (Best New Building 1994), Anchorage Park (Best Landscaping 1992), and Ibis Hotel. Many other buildings received mention: competition entries that had, in their time, failed to achieve an award, along with others, more for reasons of notoriety, rather than any intrinsic architectural merit.
Such was the success of this excellent tour, the committee might well decide to repeat the formula in June 2006. Thanks here are due to John Holland for the excellent itinerary he prepared – seven pages in all – distributed to all participants, also to both Deane Clark and Roger James for their knowledgeable running commentaries throughout the tour's progress. And a debt of gratitude should go to both Pat Saunders and Brian Jones, having willingly volunteered their time to take us around, while Clive Wilkin and others deserve our appreciation for allowing us to share the fruits of their labours on Eastbourne 42.
Bruce Oliver