Royal Naval College Pepys Building

TQ 3877 ROMNEY ROAD (north side) 786-/26/10043 Royal Naval College "Pepys Building"

GV II

Former rackets courts, now laboratories. The western block 1874-5 by Colonel Clarke RE, the central screen and eastern part identical in design and added in 1882-3 by General Pudsey RE to form a symmetrical composition. Converted to laboratories in c.1906. Stone and stuccoed facades, roof hidden by high parapets. Seven-bay screen with higher two-bay ends. Tuscan pilasters across screen break forward into pairs of Ionic columns set between engaged columns with fluted capitals, all these in antis under projecting parapets at ends. The parapets are elaborate, with raised centrepieces supported on swags and urns set on high and elaborately carved plinths as cornerpieces; all this decoration the work of C R Smith. Rusticated ground floor. At first-floor height busts in high relief set in roundels depict from east to west: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Rodney, Duncan, Collingwood, Howe, Nelson and St Vincent. Nine-bay side elevations and three-bay rear also denoted by pilasters, the ground floor rusticated under fluted frieze and with empty first-floor roundels. Above these a deep frieze and an attic storey also broken into bays by short pilaster strips. Source: PRO ADM 195/47, 20-24

Listing NGR: TQ3837077870