Former Ordnance Store

Former Ordnance Store

This is a brick building of circa 1800, situated outside the southern boundary of Kitchener Barracks to the west of the south gate, with an extension to the north that falls within the barracks boundary.

The original ordnance storehouse forms the core of the building, with later extensions added to the east, west, and north. The building is constructed of brick laid in English bond, with slate roofs to most sections, though the west wing has concrete tiles. Windows are timber throughout where they survive.

The structure is two storeys high with a basement beneath the west extension. The original store has a pitched roof with a stack at each end, while the east, west, and north extensions all have hipped roofs. The original ordnance store is three bays wide with an open floor plate at ground and first floor levels. The east and west extensions each add a single bay, and the northern store is three bays wide with a chimney stack to the north. The east and north extensions each contain a single room at ground floor; the upper floors and west extension were not inspected.

The original ordnance store's ground floor features a large segmentally-arched central opening, now fitted with a concrete lintel and timber double doors, flanked by a window to the right and a doorway to the left. At first floor there are four window openings. All openings have segmental heads formed of brick headers with stone sills, though those at ground floor have lost their sills; all windows have been boarded up. A brick modillion course runs along the eaves.

The east extension has a single arch-headed doorway and a first-floor window with a gauged segmental arch and stone sill. The flank elevation has three first-floor windows similarly detailed. The ground-floor brickwork in red brick on this flank wall may be part of the original boundary wall of the adjacent yard, later incorporated into the barracks coal yard; a modern door with concrete lintel has been inserted here. All other external openings are boarded up.

The west extension is heavily obscured by vegetation, but is known to have a single first-floor window to the south and three first-floor openings to the west, all believed to have gauged segmental arches and stone sills. An external square brick flue stands to the north. A first-floor window retains its original six-over-six pane sash. At ground and basement level are two arch-headed windows with side-hung timber casements and semi-circular transom lights.

The north extension has three windows at ground and first floor with flat gauged brick arches and stone sills, all retaining their original six-over-six pane sash windows.

Interior of the original ordnance store features a stone floor and an inspection pit with timber cover. The first floor is supported on square timber columns with chamfered corners and simple T-capitals. Doors connect the ordnance store to the eastern extension and the northern store at both levels, with a hatch providing access to the upper floor. The roof is supported by whitewashed king-post trusses with raked struts. First-floor fireplaces retain vestiges of timber surrounds. The east and north extensions contain single rooms at ground floor with timber floors.