Former Sergeants' Mess, Fenham Barracks

The former sergeants' mess at Fenham Barracks is a building that dates from 1804 to 1806, designed by James Wyatt, who was the Surveyor General to the Ordnance Board. Originally constructed as officers' quarters, it has since been converted into student accommodation around 1994. The building is made of English bond brick with brown sandstone dressings, featuring brick ridge stacks and a slate hipped valley roof, all in a late Georgian style.

It has a single-depth plan and stands two storeys high with a basement, displaying a near symmetrical front with a 12-window range. The ashlar basement and plinth are complemented by a first-floor cill band, eaves frieze, and cornice, with the end sections of the building slightly set forward. The right-of-centre entrance is round-arched, featuring panelled jambs, imposts, and a keyed arch, along with a late 20th-century plate-glass fanlight and half-glazed door.

The ground floor has round-arched late 20th-century horned 2/2-pane sashes, with the end windows set in matching arched recesses. The first floor contains segmental-arched horned 2/2-pane sashes, while smaller 3/3-pane sashes are found in the basement. The rear of the building mirrors the front but lacks an entrance. The three-bay returns have round-arched ground-floor recesses, with matching sashes in the outer ones and a late 20th-century doorway in the centre, featuring a radial fanlight and double 12-panel doors. There are steps leading up to the left-hand return entrance.

Historically, the Ordnance Board was responsible for artillery barracks during the Napoleonic War. This building is notable as one of the earliest surviving sergeants' messes in the country and is the only example from this period constructed of stone. It forms part of the former Fenham Artillery Barracks, which also included the officers' mess and guard houses.