Fire Station (Building Number 1/77)

The fire station, known as Building No 1177, is located at HM Naval Base on The Parade. It was constructed between 1843 and 1844 by RS Beatson, with strengthening work by Fox and Henderson in 1843, and was enclosed in 1847. The water tank was removed in 1950. The structure features a cast-iron frame that supports a roof made of iron plates, with corrugated iron cladding.

The exterior consists of two stages and was originally topped with a water tank. It has 3 by 13 bays, with two tiers of columns that have moulded caps and bases. The lower columns are bolted to granite padstones, while the upper ones are shorter and connected by segmental-arched beams that have flat top flanges and pierced spandrels, creating the appearance of a double arcade. There is an oversailing bracketed gallery at the top. The sides were originally open but are now infilled with corrugated iron. The west side features double board doors leading to the fire-engine garages, along with tall over-lights that have glazing bars. A corrugated-iron lean-to is located at the south end, and a corrugated iron porch with two small-pane windows is at the north end, where a cornice is positioned at the level of the lower column capitals. There are also brick single-storey additions on the east side.

Inside, there are two rows of columns supporting segmental-arched long and cross beams. The cross beams are braced by inverted T-section beams with parabolic flanges and diagonal wrought-iron ties. The floor is made of stone flags.

Historically, this tower replaced a wooden structure built by Samuel Bentham in 1800 for a salt water fire main that encircled the Yard. The water tank could hold 840 tons of salt water, and the area beneath it was used for seasoning timber. This building is a notable early example of a free-standing iron frame and is related to Beatson's other iron-framed constructions at Portsmouth, such as the Chain Testing shop and No.6 Boat Store.