Former Artillery Barracks (Building 40), Fulwood Barracks

The Former Artillery Barracks (Building 40) at Fulwood Barracks is an infantry barrack constructed between 1842 and 1848 by Major T. Foster of the Royal Engineers for the Ordnance Board. It is built from rock-faced sandstone ashlar and features ashlar cross-axial ridge stacks beneath a slate roof, showcasing a late Georgian style with a single-depth plan.

The building is two storeys high and has a 29-window range. It consists of a long series of uneven sections, arranged in a pattern of 1:6:6:7:6:3 windows, separated by coped party walls that include a ridge stack. Each long section has a pair of central ridge stacks, while the ends are slightly recessed. The outer sections have plain ashlar surrounds around doorways, which contain mid-20th century doors. The original doorways, featuring canted lintels inscribed from 1 to 12, have been replaced by windows. The end windows are flat-headed, and the inner ones are segmental-arched with 6/6-pane sashes, most of which have been replaced by matching late 20th century top-hung casements. In the center of the building, there are three small mid-20th century windows inserted at both ground and first floors, likely in a previously blind wall, and tethering hooks are still visible. The rear elevation is similar to the front. The north gable has three windows, an original doorway, and flanking mid-20th century casements, while the south gable is obscured by a single-storey, two-bay block with a shallow leaded roof.

Although the interior has not been inspected, it is reported to have dogleg stairs from the entrances with metal balusters.

Historically, this barrack is one of a matching pair located on either side of Cavalry Square, intended for either a squadron of cavalry or a demi-battalion of artillery. The central section may have housed stables, with troop rooms on the first floor. The barracks were constructed in response to concerns over Chartist agitation. While the south-east barrack range has been lost, the original layout of two parade squares within a defensible perimeter wall remains largely intact, making Fulwood the most complete example in England of the late 18th century concept of barracks design.