GOSPORT SOCIETY NEWS & UPDATES
14th November 2024
Dear Gosport Society Members,
Gosport Gosporty Speaker Meetings
Thanks goes to Fiona Meredith who is now organising our Wednesday’s Speakers Meetings, it was especially good to see regular attendees once again. A fascinating insight into another of Gosport hidden gems, Hermitage Gardens, was presented by Ann Sandall, with the audience participation and our excellent new venue, the evening was very successful.
Our next Speakers Meeting is in the New Year 12th February 2025. At The Community Hub Brune Park School. Military Road Gosport.
Speaker – Jeremy Prescott – Ionic Memorials of the fallen.
Enquiries received by Acting Hon. Secretary.
Gosport Society Archives.
You will recall that the Hampshire Archives Trust (HAT) representative duties have been transferred to secretary@gosportsociety.co.uk, subsequently, the HAT Autumn Newsletter arrived which made us aware that other Hampshire organisations were depositing their archives. After making contact with HAT arrangements were made to transfer our archives to Hampshire Records Office in Winchester. Currently HAT archivists are working their way through our records to ascertain which they consider is worthy of archiving. (they may already have some of our records stored). This process was more straightforward as Gosport Society Member, Pam Braddock, had catalogued our records previously.
HAT have also agreed to provide us with a digital copy of Gosport Records No1 to 18, which we will be able to use for our own purposes (at a reasonable cost). See update regarding our new forthcoming Gosport Society Website.
Gosport Society Website – www.gosportsociety.co.uk
Kevin Casey brought to our attention a FREE Government funded service, organised through GBC for local companies (including Charities) for a professional company to design their new WordPress Website. We immediately applied for this service, fortunately we have been accepted. Gosport Society has been debating the provision for a new Website for the last four years, it is hoped that a redesigned Gosport Society Website will be launched in the New Year 2025. Chris Kerrison, Richard Harrision & Richard Cook will attend a zoom meeting on the 25th November to progress and collate the content, Web Branding and Process. Richard Cook has circulated the Executive Committee with draft ideas on content, for comments. It is hoped that our new Website will reach out to a new audience and help with promoting Gosport Society’s future.
2 High Street Gosport.
Refurbishment works are currently being undertaken by a specialist contractor, to replace a very unusual cladding to the front elevation. Why brick shaped clay tile cladding was added to cover the existing brick elevation is unclear, no records of this addition had been recorded. This type of cladding is the only example in Gosport, more of this example of cladding is in the east Sussex area.
The Gosport Society Planning Team were invited to inspect the works being undertaken, careful coursing of the replacement brick shaped clay tile cladding being undertaken, by securing the tiles with copper nails and lime mortar. The first course laid is shown in the photogragh below, together with examples of the new clay tile brick cladding.
Thinking about the future.
Although our AGM is not until June 2025, all Executive Posts will be up for election.
Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, Membership Secretary, Social Secretary and members for our Planning Team. Also, Trustees are required. We are actively seeking new active members to assist with the administration of our Society. Please give the matter serious consideration, any member of the current Executive Committee would be only too pleased to have an informal chat with you or you may possibly know of a new member to introduce.
GOSPORT WATERFRONT. #LETSCREATE (Arts Council England)A presentation by #LETSCREATE was attended by Jeff Knott and Richard Cook, #LETSCREATE are associated with The Arts Council and the Gosport Waterfront project. The idea is to produce a Microsoft generated fly over of the Gosport Fortifications in the period of 1870’s the exact date to be yet agreed. Gosport Society drew this project to the attention of Palmerston Forts Society, who’s knowledge would be most beneficial. James Docherty & Alister Duncan from PFS attended and contributed with their technical expertise. In conversation at the meeting, I was made aware of another missing fort, Fort Brune, which was to be located in the Lee-on-the Solent boundary, due to defence reviews this was never constructed.
This project is anticipated to provide an understanding of Gosport’s importance to the defence of Portsmouth harbour, for education purposes and to promote tourism.
#LETSCREATE are seeking funding for this project in the region of £75K, this involves a partnership with under graduate university students who specialise in this field. However, if funding is not forthcoming, the project may have a commercial value, such as a platform in the Gaming Industry.
CLARENCE YARD – RUM STORE A well-attended public consultation was carried out at the reception offices of UK Docks, Victoria Quay on 12th November by project Architects, Pritchard Architecture. With the Governments Levelling up fund supported by GBC, exciting plans for the redevelopment of the Rum Store was presented. Public comments were taken for consideration, a formal planning application will be made shortly. A mix of administration and retail space was displayed. The second floor of the Rum Store, which was badly damaged in WW2 and subsequently demolished is to be rebuilt, also proposed is a roof viewing terrace and bar.
Gosport Society’s Hon. Vice President Mrs Lesley Burton
It was brought to our attention by Julliet Hewit, that our long-standing member and contributor to Gosport Society, Mrs Lesley Burton, is currently in rest-bite care at Clarence Unit at Woodcot Lodge Rowner Road Gosport. We have sent Lesley a card from Gosport Society, and wish her well. Hopefully, Lesley will recognise some of the new framed photographs displayed at Clarence Unit, earlier this year we gave Woodcot Lodge permission to use photographs from our Photographic Archive. We have been advised that Lesley will be returning home shortly, which is very good news.
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Researcher Volunteer needed.
Terry Rhodes has contacted Gosport Society, regarding a former Gosport Resident Jessie Meriton White/Mario, who spent most of her life in Italy. Jessie was a nurse, writer and philanthropist who had a close relationship with Met Garibaldi and the unification of Italy. Terry was contacted by Andrew Hornung who enquired why Jessie is not recognised in Gosport. If a Gosport Society member is willing to carry out research of Jessie Meriton White/ Mario, perhaps her achievements may be made more aware to Gosport residents.
UPDATE – HASLAR BARRACKS – Protection of buildings during construction work.
We have received a response from Immigration Enforcement (Home Office), in respect of requesting the existing properties to be protected against water ingress during building work. The contractor removed the existing slate roofs 6 months ago, and has not attempted to recover them. An unsatisfactory reply was received from the Home Office, we therefore asked Gosport Society GBC representative, Julie Westerby, to speak to GBC Planning Office. Simon Barnett (Planning Development Manager) he responded by promising to speak to his planning contact, who is acting for the Home Office, and request they engage more positively with Gosport Society.
Best wishes from the Gosport Society News Updated Team 2024. Dated 14th November 2024