Hms Nelson: Eastney (Building Number 79)

HMS Nelson, formerly known as HMS Victory, is a naval canteen and theatre built between 1899 and 1903 for the Admiralty, designed under the supervision of Colonel Sir Henry Pilkington RE. It was later altered, and refurbished in 1991. The building is a rectangular block with gabled end ranges to the north and south, of two storeys and an attic, set around a central section which incorporates a theatre. The exterior is of red brick in English bond, with ashlar dressings. It has a slate roof with tall, corniced brick chimneys.

The north and south elevations are arranged symmetrically, with 1:2:3:2:1 bays, where the two-bay sections project forward under gabled pediments; the outer bays are blind. Windows are 12-pane and 8-pane sashes with stone sills, segmental brick arches, and tripartite keystones to the canted projections. A wide round arch of brick and stone, with very large voussoirs, features in the central three bays; the entrance behind it has a multi-leaf door, a small-pane fanlight, and a cable-moulded surround, with an iron-railed balcony on the first floor. The west elevation shows gable lunettes on the returns of the north and south ranges, while the projecting theatre section has tripartite sashes, two of which have been converted into doors. Pilasters rise from the impost level of the theatre section to a stepped, corniced parapet. There is an entrance in the re-entrant wall at the south side, with a half-glazed double door and small-pane glazing. The east elevation features canted bays of two and three storeys.

Inside, the roof is supported by decorative cast-iron columns. HMS Nelson was part of the first barracks built for sailors, with similar designs at Devonport and Chatham, and the inclusion of theatres was intended to improve the living standards for seamen.