Arrogant Block, Fort Blockhouse

Arrogant Block, Fort Blockhouse

A defensible barrack block built between 1845 and 1847, subsequently altered and extended in the early and late 20th century.

The building is constructed of red stock brick and vitrified brick laid in Flemish bond for the original structure, with later extensions in stretcher bond. Stone detailing is used throughout, and the roof is slated. Windows are replacement uPVC.

The building is rectangular in plan with two storeys and a storage attic. The principal west-facing elevation contains the main entrance at its centre, set beneath a shallow cantilevered stone porch with a pair of later 20th-century glazed metal doors and transom light. The elevation comprises 19 bays at ground floor level, consisting of three bays of openings to each of five casemates, flanked by two end bays and a two-bay ablutions extension at the south end. Each casemate has three three-over-four pane sashes, except in the fourth bay where the centre window is replaced by the main entrance. Window openings have flat red brick arches and stone cills, with some featuring two stone blocks inset into the brickwork on each side, several carrying metal pintles. The central casemate windows have rubbed-brick headers which are later additions, as is the associated window opening and brickwork above. The end bays contain single sash windows beneath replacement rubbed-brick headers; the southern example also retains a higher-set narrow brick header corresponding to an earlier entrance opening. Concrete steps with tubular steel railings stand before the current entrance.

A two-storey ablutions block is attached to the southern end, featuring a lower flat roof and casement windows with stone lintels, stone storey band and brick cills. The first floor of the main block stands above the casemates, separated by a concrete storey band, and displays regular four-over-four pane sash windows set between brick pilasters with plain reconstituted stone banding. Lintels and cills are of concrete or stone.

The rear eastern elevation is 18 bays long, including a projecting stairwell near centre and the two-bay ablutions extension. The casemate arches contain three-over-four pane sash windows with concrete or stone lintels and cills, with further three-over-two pane windows above the central sashes. Thirteen bays at first-floor level comprise largely three-over-four pane sashes. The projecting stairwell is lit by one large fixed window. The ablutions extension features uPVC casement and top-hung windows with stone lintels and cills.

The north elevation has three bays at ground floor, with a flush timber door beneath a shallow cantilevered stone porch, flanked by three-over-four pane sash windows. The first floor contains five bays: a flush timber door opening to the fort's parapet walk; a uPVC casement window; and three uPVC windows with fixed and top-hung lights.

The south elevation of the ablutions extension displays five bays of uPVC casement windows at ground floor, each beneath uPVC clerestory windows, and seven bays of uPVC casements to the first floor. A partially-glazed door opens to the parapet walk. The gable end of the main range rises above, featuring a tripartite attic window with stone lintel and cill.

Internally, the lobby has timber double doors with glazed panels. The groin-vaults of the casemates have been plastered but remain partially visible in ground-floor accommodation rooms. Corridors and accommodation rooms on both ground and first floors are functional in design, fitted with late 20th-century flush timber doors, sink units, shelves, desks and wardrobe units. A dog-leg staircase with steel balustrade accesses the first-floor bedrooms. The ablutions block contains late 20th-century fixtures and fittings of functional design.