Former Cavalry Barracks (Building 57), Fulwood Barracks

SD53SW FULWOOD WATLING STREET ROAD (North side)

1023/7/10011 Former Cavalry barracks (Building 57), Fulwood Barracks 29.3.1982

GV II

Cavalry barrack. 1842-48, by Major T Foster RE, for the Ordnance Board. Rock-faced sandstone ashlar with ashlar cross-axial ridge stacks and slate roof Late Georgian style. Single-depth plan. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys; 28-window range. Long range of uneven 7:7:7:7-window sections divided by coped party walls with a ridge stack, each with a pair of central ridge stacks, 1-window ends slightly recessed. Outer sections have plain ashlar surrounds to doorways 4 bays from the ends with mid C20 doors; original doorways, with canted lintels inscribed from 1-12 from the S gable, to front and rear elevations replaced by windows, end flat-headed and inner segmental-arched windows with 6/6-pane sashes, most replaced by matching late C20 top-hung casements. In the centre of the ground floor are 6 small inserted mid C20 windows, probably in a formerly blind wall; tethering hooks survive. 3-window end gables with matching blocked doorways, and similar rear elevation, which has 2 mid C20 entrance towers. INTERIOR: not inspected, but reported to have dogleg stairs from the entrances with metal balusters. HISTORY: one of a matching pair of barracks on either side of Cavalry Square, for either a squadron of cavalry or a demi-battalion of artillery. The central section probably contained stables, with first-floor troops rooms. The barracks was built in response to anxiety over Chartist agitation. Although the south-east barrack range has been lost, the original plan of two parade squares within a defensible perimeter wall is substantially intact, making Fulwood the most complete example in England of the late C18 concept of barracks. (PSA Drawings Collection, NMR: MCR 58).

Listing NGR: SD5489631786