ABOUT ASPEX Background The Vulcan Building - History - Development Support aspex - Friends - Business Sponsors     .

The Vulcan Building

THE VULCAN BUILDING - history The conversion of the historic Vulcan Building to a contemporary art gallery represents the first time that the public has be granted access to this important building, which has had a long and chequered history. This stunning venue originally dates back to 1814, when it was constructed by the Board of Ordnance as a naval storehouse. Built in red brick with grey lintels, the Vulcan Building was by far the most striking structure in the whole of Portsmouth Harbour. As one of the largest storehouses of its day, its importance was reflected by its embellishments, which included pediment and a central clock tower. The building's original incarnation as a storehouse would be short-lived, as the Gunwharf Quays area became increasingly demilitarised, and over subsequent years the structure was put to a variety of uses including makeshift offices for the Mining School during the First World War. The Vulcan Building gradually began to fall into disrepair, with its prominent clock tower, and north wing being burnt out in the blitz of 1941. Finally, in 1955, the Vulcan Building was closed to and would sit vacant at Portsmouth Harbour for almost fifty years. In 1995, The Millennium Commission announced the Portsmouth Harbour Millennium Project, set up to regenerate the historic Gunwharf Quays area, which now boast shops, restaurants and the famous Spinnaker Tower. As part of this scheme, the Ministry of Defence sold the Vulcan Building to developers Berkeley Festival Waterfront Company, who then went on to rebuild the destroyed north wing and clock tower. aspex started negotiations with Berkeley Homes to take over the building and convert it into a contemporary art gallery in January 2003. Please see the Development page of this site for further information.