The Development
Royal Clarence Marina's enchanting panoramic harbour views will never fail to inspire awe and wonder. It captures many beautiful aspects of impressive maritime history.
Royal Clarence Marina captures many aspects, historic landmarks, harbour views and vistas across the marina and towards the open sea. The remarkable Georgian architecture provides and elegant backdrop to the magnificent views over one of the finest deep water marinas on the south coast.
With new 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, Royal Clarence Marina offers a unique opportunity to purchase a very special home in a very special location.
300 years of living, working and baking
Royal Clarence Marina, previously known as Royal Clarence Yard, has a rich and interesting background.
The Portsmouth basin has been an important landing and loading site for boats since Roman times, but Royal Clarence Yard's significant contribution to history was during the Empire building years of the 19th century.
HRH The Duke of Clarence, Lord High Admiral - later William IV - decreed that this site should be developed into a modern victualling yard. It was named Royal Clarence Yard after him. George Ledwell Taylor was commissioned with the architectural design and work started in late 1828. The waterfront buildings were finished in December 1832 - four times over budget at £200,000.
Royal Clarence Yard stocked the Royal Navy with food and raw materials until the 1960's and it was one of the world's first sites to mass produce food on an industrial scale. The Yard's hygiene standards were meticulously monitored by the Board of Ordnance. In the 20th century, freeze drying, refrigeration techniques and experimental methods of food preservation were also pioneered here.
Although badly bombed in 1940-1944, the Yard witnessed some of its finest hours when it supplied the D-Day Armada with bread and food as it was assembled at the Spithead. After WW2, ships were built with refrigeration so the Yard was used for storage rather than production. The Yard sprang into life for the final time when it supplied British troops in the Falklands War, the former Yugoslavia and the first Gulf War with a variety of essential equipment and goods.
| Date | |
|---|---|
1690 | Captain Henry Player, who lives in a large house here, opens a brewery to supply the Navy |
1710-1750 | The newly formed Board of Ordnance purchases all the land around the house and brewery |
1761 | The Admiralty purchases the site. Brewing and cooperage are transferred here from Portsmouth |
1820 | The victualling facilities are transferred here from Portsmouth |
1831 | Site named Royal Clarence Yard after the Duke of Clarence – later crowned King William IV |
1850 | Royal Train Station with a platform and landing stage installed for Queen Victoria on passage for Osbourne House, Isle of Wight |
1857 | The site now produces the staples for the Royal Navy – salt, beef, bread, biscuits, butter, beer, flour, oatmeal and vats of rum |
1901 | Queen Victoria dies at Osborne House and Royal mourners gather at Royal Clarence Yard to take the coffin by train to London. It is the last time the Royal Landing is used. |
1907 | The bakery closes |
World War II | There are 59 bombing raids on Portsmouth and Gosport between 1940 and 1944. Royal Clarence Yard is damaged by incendiary bombs. |
The Post War Years | The Victualling yard modernised and largely used for storage. The Cooperage continues |
1970 | Navy's rum rations finally cease and Royal Clarence Yard officially closes |
1982 | Re-opens for the Falklands War |
1998 | Local Authority adopts Planning brief |
2001 | Berkeley starts work |
2009 | Granary and Bakery apartments and Flagstaff House released |
| 2010 | Salthouse apartments released |
| 2011 | The Chandlers released |
