Reports from Archaeological Building Recording Project SOU1755 of 3 Grosvenor Square, Southampton, 2017
Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit, 2022. https://doi.org/10.5284/1093320. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Dr Andy Russel unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Primary contact
Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit
18 Melbourne Street
Southampton
SO14 5FB
Tel: 023 8063 4906
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4689
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1093320
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises the Written Scheme of Investigation and Report resulting from a programme of archaeological building recording carried out by The Archaeology Unit of Southampton City Council at 3 Grosvenor Square, Southampton in 2017.
The house was probably built in the early 1830s, and it was certainly in existence with a ‘tastefully laid out shrubbery and garden’ by April 1835. The architect was Thomas Benham. The house was built for the corn factor William Oke, who named it Oak Villa. Owners/tenants in the 19th and early 20th century included colonels, a JP and the Lord Bishop of Southampton. In 1912 the building was turned into a Nursing Home by Julia Caroline Mary Mocatta, an early pioneer in professional nursing. In 1929-30 the original 99-year lease expired, and the grounds of Oak Villa were developed with mansion blocks. By 1932 the Gregg Schools, a commercial college, had moved in, but in 1941 it was requisitioned by the Admiralty, the Gregg Schools returning in January 1945. The Gregg Schools remained until at least 1964, but had left by 1970 when the premises were occupied by the Southampton College of Technology. The building was subject to major refurbishment in 1975 and became offices. Mention is made in the planning file of the building having been badly burnt, although no signs of fire were seen in the survey.
Examination of the drawings and the present building shows that during the 1975 works steel RSJ’s were inserted, fireplaces were removed and the openings blocked, partition walls were removed, false ceilings were inserted, windows were mostly replaced, skirting boards were removed, the cellar was dry-lined, and all walls were re-plastered. Joists and floor boards throughout were mostly renewed. Little historic fabric survived the 1975 restoration, and the present conversion to flats had a light touch so did not reveal much new information about the historic building, but it was possible to gather data about brick and timber sizes.
