Watts Memorial Hall Vincent’s Walk Southampton

THE WATTS MEMORIAL HALL - On Monday evening the opening ceremony took place of the Watts Memorial Hall, a commodious block of school buildings facing Vincent's walk, at the rear of Above Bar Chapel, and dedicated to the memory of the famous sacred poet, Dr Isaac Watts. The doctor was born in Southampton, in a house still standing, which forms part of a quadrangle known as Hampton Court, French Street.  …  The new school buildings completely cover the site of Watts's garden at the rear of the chapel - a plot of ground conveyed to the deacons of the chapel, in perpetuity - and they form an appropriate and lasting memorial of the poet in his native town on the very spot where he thought and worshipped. The architect of the buildings is Mr. H. J Paull, of Winchester (sic), and the builder is Mr. H. T. Sanders, of this town. The style of the buildings is free Italian, and the total cost is about £6,000. The large central hall will accommodate a thousand persons. The foundation stone was laid by Mr. Samuel Morley in May last year. [Hampshire Telegraph 12 April 1876 page 4].

Reference           Hampshire Telegraph 12 April 1876 page 4