Cadets' residence (Hudson, Shackleton and Wilson), linked walkway and refectory block (Moyana), at the Warsash Maritime Academy

A former cadets' residence, linked walkway, and refectory block constructed in 1959-61 by Sheppard, Robson and Partners. The complex exemplifies post-war maritime training architecture and comprises three interconnected elements designed to serve the training needs of merchant navy cadets.

Cadets' Residence (Hudson, Shackleton and Wilson)

The residence is a substantial five-storey building, including a basement, constructed with concrete floors and load-bearing brick cross-walls. The elevations are faced in Crowborough stock brick laid in monk bond, with slate cills throughout. Windows are metal-framed, and balconies and walkways feature metal railings with hardwood timber detailing.

The rectangular building is positioned on a westward-falling slope, with its principal elevation overlooking Southampton Water. The eastern elevation faces the former parade ground and provides access to three separate units—Hudson, Shackleton, and Wilson—each entered via individual external staircases at ground floor level. Each unit originally contained a self-contained officer's flat on the ground floor, with a staircase on the eastern side serving cadet rooms at basement level (C-Deck), first floor (B-Deck), second floor (A-Deck), and fourth floor (bridge level). The fourth floor features observation balconies to the north, south, and west. All floors except ground level are connected by spine corridors, with communal bathrooms originally located on the east side.

The principal west-facing elevation is brick-faced with regular black-framed fenestration and slate cills. The window bays are arranged in a rhythm of 1:3:2:3:2:3:1, with alternating vertical and horizontal emphasis across each bay section. At first-floor level, the three-bay sections have cantilevered glazed balconies. The fourth floor features open balconies with plain metal railings and horizontal timber boards in the one-bay and two-bay sections. The building is capped by a plain timber-clad cornice and flat roof. The northern and southern elevations are largely blank, save for covered fourth-floor balconies. The northern elevation has concrete steps with metal rails supported by timber boards, rising from lower ground at the north-west and wrapping around to meet ground floor level on the eastern side. The southern elevation displays a stone dedication plaque and a circular Royal Institute of British Architects architecture medal at ground floor level.

The top three storeys of the eastern elevation echo the western elevation's character but with bays arranged as 1:4:2:4:2:4:1, featuring alternating black-framed horizontal and vertical fenestration. The ground floor is recessed and faced in white glazed tiles, with an open walkway running from the northern end to the linked walkway. This walkway has white-painted metal rails and horizontal timber boards. Three pairs of glazed entrance doors, each set within glazed timber architraves beneath stone plaques bearing the house names (Hudson, Shackleton, or Wilson), provide access to the individual units. Below, the basement opens onto a light well faced in cogged bricks.

Internally, the former officer flats—originally consisting of living room, kitchen, study, and three bedrooms—and cadet rooms—originally arranged as six-person, two-person, or single-person accommodation—have been converted to functional student accommodation. This conversion has included the addition of partition walls and en-suite bathrooms. Late 20th-century suspended ceilings have been installed throughout, and late 20th-century linoleum covers all floors except the fourth floor, which retains its parquet flooring. The dog-leg staircases feature open concrete treads with functional metal handrails supported by timber boards.

Linked Walkway

The walkway connecting the residence to the refectory is flat-roofed, broad, and largely open at the sides, with metal railings and horizontal timber boards. Metal posts support the structure. On the north side stands an oval-shaped concrete boiler house chimney of shuttered construction, approximately 20 metres high, which rises through the walkway floor and pierces the flat roof. Also on the north side, concrete steps descend from the walkway to the refectory service area and plant rooms.

Refectory Block (Moyana)

The refectory is a primarily single-storey rectangular building with a steel frame for the dining halls and a timber frame for the common rooms, the latter resting on teak window frames. The building is clad in Crowborough stock brick laid in monk bond, with slate hanging to the west. It rests on a concrete substructure and semi-basement. The principal elevation faces west onto Southampton Water, while the main entrances are on the eastern elevation, with the principal entrance located beneath the linked walkway.

The gentle westward slope of the land creates space for storage and service facilities at the north end and a radar room at the south end. On the main floor, the staff common room occupies the north end, adjacent to a cadets' ante-room designed to double as a stage or platform for the cadets' dining hall. A later 20th-century glazed timber wall and door now separates this from the former cadets' dining hall, now used as a refectory. At the south end of the refectory, folding doors provide separation from the former senior cadets' dining hall. Both halls are served by a kitchen with late 20th-century fit-out and offices on the east side, and feature large sliding glass doors to the west. The senior cadets' common room occupies the southern end of the building, which has a separate eastern entrance.

The principal western elevation is dominated by three shallow counter-pitched roofs in line, covered in slate that wraps around the upper part of the vertical face. At the northern end, a low, wide, cantilevered section has regular metal-framed windows in teak surrounds beneath a flat roof. A similar but smaller structure occupies the southern end. Both sections have metal stairs leading down to a patio area. Between these sections, low, horizontally-orientated teak-framed patio doors and smaller teak-framed windows face west onto Southampton Water. There are also three pairs of late 20th-century fire doors. Where the land falls away to the west, the exposed area is faced in Crowborough stock brick.

The eastern elevation is long, low, and single-storey with a flat roof, though the shallow-pitched roofs of the halls are visible beyond. At the northern and southern ends, entrances are characterized by regular full-height glazing in teak architraves. The entrance doors are teak-framed and glazed, standing under the linked walkway at the north end and under a plain open porch at the south end. The elevation between is faced in Crowborough brick in monk bond with nine regularly-spaced single-pane metal windows.

The northern elevation features a low, wide, cantilevered section with regular metal-framed windows in teak surrounds beneath a flat roof. The semi-basement has a service entrance, and to the east, concrete stairs with metal rails and timber boarding rise to the linked walkway. At ground floor level, the southern elevation has full-height glazing primarily in teak architraves, except for the western element (a former loggia) which has been infilled with uPVC windows. The semi-basement radar room is faced in Crowborough brick and has central glazed entrance doors with full-height glazing in teak architraves.

Internally, Moyana comprises a line of common rooms and dining facilities with full-height folding and sliding doors supported by triangular timber frames with inset glazing. On the west side, large teak-framed sliding patio doors provide access to the exterior, and throughout the building, windows and doors are predominantly constructed of teak. The main ceiling features a broad central strip of acoustic timber slats that retain their concealed top lighting, with a continuous strip of louvred roof lights to the side. The main entrance hall is lined with polished timber boarding and has an image of a compass inlaid into the linoleum flooring.

Note: Certain later alterations, including partition walls, en-suite bathrooms, suspended ceilings, linoleum flooring in the residence, late 20th-century glazed timber walls, fire doors, patio areas, uPVC window infill, and late 20th-century kitchen fit-out, are not considered of special architectural or historic interest under section 1(5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. However, any works affecting the character of the listed building may still require listed building consent.