The Guard House (Cafe)

The Guard House, now a cafe, is an early 19th-century brick building located on the west side of Main Gate Road in Chatham Dockyard. It features a slate hipped roof and has a single-depth plan with a single storey. The building consists of three bays on each side, with chamfered surrounds and rubbed brick flat arches above the central doorway, which is recessed. It has 6/6-pane sash windows. The east front includes a left-hand doorway with a 4-pane overlight and a boarded door, along with 6/6-pane sashes. The north and south returns each have three doorways with narrow overlights and boarded doors.

Inside, the building has been simply converted into a cafe. Historically, it pairs with a matching guard house opposite, which is now the Customs House, and is part of a complete group of Georgian dockyard buildings. Its prominent position next to the ropery complex contributes to its historical significance as an important element within this notably complete Georgian dockyard and factory.