South Cross House: Preserving a Piece of Gosport’s History
At Imperial Homes, we believe that some buildings deserve more than a new purpose; they deserve to have their stories carried forward.
Our latest partnership development with VIVID at Ham Lane in Gosport will see the former Blake’s Hospital building carefully converted to create seven new maisonettes for rent. As part of the project, an important connection to Gosport’s past will also be preserved through the building’s new address: 1 to 7, South Cross House.
The name has been agreed in recognition of Thomas Naish Blake, a prominent Gosport brewer and philanthropist whose generosity played an important role in the creation of the original hospital more than 125 years ago.
The story of Thomas Naish Blake
Thomas Naish Blake was part of the Blake family behind S & T N Blake & Co., one of Gosport’s best-known historic breweries. The company was based at South Cross Street Brewery and became a significant local business, owning numerous public houses across the area.
However, Thomas Blake’s contribution to Gosport extended far beyond brewing.
During the 1890s, the town was seeking a suitable location for a dedicated infectious diseases hospital. Following considerable discussion over where such a facility should be built, a site at Elson was selected.
Thomas Blake initially offered financial assistance towards the proposed hospital, but his contribution ultimately went much further. Contemporary reports from the time record that he bore the cost of constructing the much-needed institution, while Mrs Blake provided its furniture.
The hospital was formally opened in 1899 and contained four wards with accommodation for 16 patients. At the time, Blake’s gift was described as one of extraordinary generosity and an important contribution to the local community.
The Blake name subsequently became closely connected with the site, which became known locally as Blake’s Hospital. The building later served as a maternity hospital, becoming part of the lives and memories of generations of Gosport residents.
From South Cross Street to South Cross House
As we began the next chapter for this historic building, we wanted its new identity to have a meaningful connection to the people and history behind it.
Working with the local authority, the address South Cross House, 1–7 has now been agreed for the seven new homes.
The name provides a subtle link back to the South Cross Street Brewery, where the Blake family built their successful brewing business, while recognising Thomas Naish Blake and the contribution he made to Gosport.
Rather than selecting a completely new name with no connection to the site, South Cross House allows a small but important part of that history to continue.
Giving a historic building a new purpose
Today, Imperial Homes is working in partnership with VIVID to thoughtfully transform the former hospital building into seven new maisonettes for rent.
The refurbishment will give the existing building a new lease of life while retaining an important part of Gosport’s built heritage. Instead of being lost, a building that has already served the local community in different ways throughout its history will once again have a useful and lasting purpose.
For Imperial Homes, projects such as South Cross House demonstrate the value of looking beyond new construction alone. Sensitive refurbishment can preserve familiar local buildings, make better use of existing structures and create much-needed new homes while maintaining a connection with the communities and stories that came before them.
More than a century after Thomas Naish Blake helped provide a building for the benefit of Gosport residents, it feels particularly fitting that the site will begin another chapter providing homes for the local community.
South Cross House is a new name for the development, but one firmly rooted in Gosport’s past.
