C. W. Brewster House

The Brewster House is located at 198 Islington Street, on the south side almost opposite the intersection with Brewster Street.

An unknown builder constructed the home in 1817. Charles W. Brewster was its most famous owner. A descendant of William Brewster, the pilgrim who arrived in this country on the Mayflower, Charles Brewster edited the Portsmouth Journal from 1825 until his death in 1868. Like me, he enjoyed walking the streets of Portsmouth learning of its history. He published two books that describe his Rambles About Portsmouth.

A developer has extensively remodeled the building as part of a condominium project called Islington Place.

There are hidden gems on and near Islington Street, including Buckminster House, The Pearl, and Goodwin Park. This is not, however, one of the best places to walk in Portsmouth. The streets are lined with commercial buildings and developments and there are many active parking lots. Crossing busy Islington Street can be dangerous because there are few crosswalks and many delivery trucks, parked cars, and turning vehicles.