Summary
Former public house of around 1810, closed in the late C20 and converted to supported accommodation and shops around 2010.
Reasons for Designation
The former Royal Arms public house of around 1810, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* as an early C19 public house, whose former function is discernible by an embellished pub frontage featuring a large, decorative canopy carrying stylised signage;
* despite alterations in the early C21, the layout of the former bar rooms is emphasised by the two entrances, a fire place, and etched glass signage to the windows.
History
Gosport is recorded in 1206 as a ‘newly built’ port town (Oxford Archaeology 2014, 20). That which survives of the medieval grid pattern of streets and tenements is situated in what is now ‘Old Gosport’ and incorporates the east-west running High Street (‘Middle Street’ on C18 maps) which is flanked by North Street and South Street, with small cross streets and lanes (such as North Cross Street, South Cross Street and Bemister’s Lane) linking the three. By 1417, Gosport was involved in the defensive system of Portsmouth Harbour with a blockhouse (fort) on Blockhouse Point.
A ferry service linked the two towns from the C16 onwards and the subsequent development of Gosport was largely driven by its role in defending the western landward and seaward approaches to the harbour and supplying the Royal Navy. From the late C17 onwards, a line of ramparts and artillery bastions, known as the Gosport Lines, were built surrounding the town. Gosport’s growth over the following three centuries mirrored that of the navy, as boatyards, rope-making facilities, victualling yards, a prison, hospitals, barracks and naval bases were constructed. It also led to demand for housing in large new residential areas beyond the Gosport Lines.
In the mid-C19, invasion fears saw new fortifications built, including the five artillery forts of the Gosport Advanced Line, and the Stokes Bay Lines. Gosport continued to have an important military role in providing bases and training facilities during the First and Second World War. However, the town suffered major bomb damage during the latter conflict, and there was extensive post-war rebuilding, particularly of new housing developments. Gosport’s military establishments continued to modernise and diversify until the 1990s, which saw the beginning of a period of closures and redevelopments that has continued into the 2020s.
Originally established in 1810, the Royal Arms became known as the ‘Submariners Pub’ in the C20 as it was regular haunt of crew members returning to Gosport after a tour of duty. It closed as a public house at the end of the C20 and around 2010, the rear part of the ground floor and the entirety of the first floor were rebuilt as supported accommodation. The front section of the ground floor has been converted to open plan shop units. Externally, there have been detail changes to the rear fenestration and the painted 'Royal Arms' sign has been moved to the right side (originally to the centre above the first floor windows).
Details
Former public house of around 1810, closed in the late C20 and converted to supported accommodation and shops around 2010.
MATERIALS: the principal front has glazed brown facing brick in stretcher bond to the ground floor, overpainted brick to the first floor and exposed red brick on the return and rear elevations, under concrete tile-covered roofs.
PLAN: rectangular on a deep plan, indicative of its historic burgage plot form.
EXTERIOR: the front elevation is two-storey across three bays, with the ground floor faced in dark brown glazed bricks with decorative pilasters and light-brown rectangular panels. There is ceramic swag decoration to the brackets at the top of the pilasters. The two entrances have panelled double doors with multi-pane top lights. The three, tripartite transom windows have decorative etched glass and multi-pane top lights.
There is a cast-iron canopy which projects over the pavement across the whole of the frontage. It has thin columns with decorative capitals and filigree support, beneath a panelled frieze of brown glass in a geometric pattern, set within a bottle green border. Each panel displays inset white glass script in an early C20 stylised font, reading across the frieze as 'BRICKWOODS AND CO'S BRILLIANT ALES SUPERIOR WINES AND SPIRITS'. The returns carry 'ROYAL ARMS'. Below the frieze there are small, drop pendants and the glazed lean-to roof is fronted by crested decoration.
The first floor is of painted brick and surmounted with a brick string course beneath the parapet. It has three pairs of recessed, one over one sash windows in moulded timber frames with painted brick heads. Towards the right side, there is a painted sign 'ROYAL ARMS', below a metal support for a pub sign (missing).
The west side elevation is mainly of unpainted brick with one modern door and one panelled door with multi-pane top lights. It has timber transom windows with multi-pane top lights to the ground floor and six over six pane sash windows to the first floor. Above, there is a rebuilt chimney stack with two C20 pots. The mainly concealed roof is triple-hipped and covered with brown concrete, interlocking tiles. There is also a brick chimney stack to the east side with dentil detailing and two pots.
INTERIOR: the former pub rooms to the ground floor have been modernised and converted into an open plan space accessed through the former public bar and lounge bar entrances. The smaller area to the left side has a fireplace with timber surround and red tile insert. The rear of the ground floor is no longer accessible from the former bar area and this along with the entirety of the first floor have been subdivided into accommodation units with modern finishes.
