Description

PLYMOUTH

SX45NW SALTASH ROAD, Devonport
740-1/4/172 (West side)
08/07/98 HMS Drake: St Nicholas Road,
Grenville Block

GV II

Large barrack, one of 3 similar blocks. 1901, Superintendent
Engineer Lt-Col P Smith, RE.
MATERIALS: dressed Plymouth limestone brought to course and
with limestone dressings; slate or asbestos slate roof behind
parapets with moulded cornices to sides, and to projecting
blocks, and behind pedimented gables with flanking panelled
stone stacks with moulded entablature.
STYLE: Free Classical.
PLAN: overall rectangular plan plus projecting corner wings
and central wings to sides.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys, over basement on the lower ground [the
ground floor is slightly below ground level at the higher
end]; symmetrical 2:3:2-bay ends which are principal entrance
fronts with central doorways flanked by pairs of windows;
doorways at slightly irregular intervals also to 2:8:2:8:2-bay
sides. Mid-floor moulded entablature; entrance fronts have
keyed segmental arches to ground floor and pediments to centre
of wings; keyed round arches to recessed pilastered openings
to 1st floor and flat heads with pediments to 2nd floor.
Returns of the corner blocks have similar detail to the
fronts. The central wings of the sides have rock-faced
pilasters dividing the bays and triangular pediments to the
parapets.
The long ranges set back between have pedimented hoods on
brackets to 1st floor and consoles resembling machicolations
above 2nd-floor windows. Original horned sashes with glazing
bars an panelled doors.
INTERIOR: not inspected, but noted as having large
dormitories, with end corner washrooms and central stairs.
HISTORY: part of the second phase of construction; in their
plan the barracks followed the pavilion principle, better
known for hospitals. They were originally fitted with
hammocks. Sailors lived in hulks until their first barracks
were built, here at Devonport, then Chatham and Portsmouth.
HMS Drake was the only one built of ashlar. Part of the finest
and most complete barrack complexes in England, manifesting
the status and importance of the Royal Navy at this time.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Devon: London: 1989-:
655 & 656).

Listing NGR: SX4482856881

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26666086

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)