Fascinating History

Had to visit Cams Hall today, once a rather grand Paladian mansion on the edge of Portsmouth Harbour, and now an impressive business centre.
 
It is also the home of boats.com, the sailing media organisation which partners the Yachting Journalists’ Association in the organisation of the two principal awards in sailing, for the Yachtsman of the Year and Young Sailor of the Year.
 
Although now in use as modern offices the mansion retains all the elegance of a listed Georgian building, with a fascinating history that goes back at least as far as the Domesday Book of 1086. Over the years historical records reveal a succession of owners, and the present mansion, constructed largely of Portland stone, was built in the late 1700s.
 
During the second World War the mansion was requisitioned by the Admiralty who had possession of it until 1948, but when the Navy left it fell into disrepair and became virtually derelict until it was restored in the 1990s to become headquarters for a computer firm.
 
For 16 years now it has been  operated as a business centre by a privately owned property business which has similar centres in the adjoining county of Surrey.
 
But it is also licensed for weddings, and adjoining farm buildings in the parkland have also been converted to offices, and there is a golf course adjoining.
 
 
For my meeting this morning, it provided an inspiring out-of-town workplace venue, and much to my joy, I and my colleagues have a date set for another meeting there as we move with our partner towards the launch of this year’s competition to find the British yachtsman of the year and the up and coming young sailors who deserve recognition for their talent.