North Office Block (Building Number 1/144)

A brick office block, originally a smithery, constructed between 1791 and 1794 and later converted to a clothing store before its current use as an office. The building is part of the HM Naval Base, located on Victoria Road. It was altered in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The building is constructed of red brick in Flemish bond, with ashlar dressings, brighter-red brick arches, and stone sills to the windows. It has a Welsh slate roof with later brick stacks. The plan is rectangular. The north elevation has nine bays arranged 3:3:3, with projecting end sections; the right-hand end section has stuccoed raised quoins, a ground floor band, and eaves band. This elevation features a flat-arched entrance and four 12-pane sashes, with the ground-floor window in the third bay replaced by a door. The remainder of this elevation has segmental-arched windows with replacement glazing, which are shorter on the first floor. The west elevation has seven first-floor windows, with three on the right narrower and more closely spaced and exhibits similar stucco detailing. It contains two entrances and a range of sashes, including 12-pane, 16-pane, and 4-pane windows. Above are four segmental-arched and three round-arched windows. A cornice with brick dentils and a pediment is present on the right bay. The south elevation has a 3:5:3 bay arrangement, with the three bays on the left apparently of different construction. The ends project, and features a stepped dentilled brick eaves band. Windows in bays 4 and 8 have doors inserted. A 20th-century attic is located over the right-hand section. The east elevation has 12 bays, including an entrance at bay 7 with an original rainwater pipe dated 1848.

The north range at the west end retains some panelled door and window reveals, while a single, remaining chamfered square wooden column is present on the ground floor of the south range. Both ground and first floors have been refitted as offices in the mid-to-late 20th century. The roof features braced, collared queen-post trusses. Originally the oldest naval smithery building in Devonport, it was altered in the mid-19th century with the removal of original hand forges and chimneys, and superseded by the No.2 Ship Shop and Brass Foundry. The building's original internal features relating to its smithery use are largely absent.