Gateway And Two Flanking Guardrooms To Former Willems Barracks

The gateway and two flanking guardrooms to the former Willems Barracks, dated 1856, are located on Farnborough Road in Aldershot. These disused structures are built of yellow stock brick, featuring Portland stone and rubbed brick dressings, topped with a slate roof. The guardrooms are single-storey and have a five-bay design with two-window street gables.

The entrance is marked by two pairs of square piers with plinths and stone caps, which have shallow brackets. Mid-20th century metal gates are set between the piers, along with outer flat-headed wickets that are within segmental arches. The left panel features the initials "VP" in raised letters surrounded by oak leaves, labeled "WEST CAVALRY BARRACKS," while the right panel is inscribed "ERECTED 1856." Short walls connect the piers to the guardrooms, which have outer pilasters matching the piers and coped gables. These gables feature rusticated segmental-arched sunken panels that contain two small segmental-arched 4/4-pane sash windows. The opposite gables have a brick dentil cornice, three sunken panels, and a lunette.

On the inner sides of the guardrooms, there are three 6/6-pane sash windows and panelled doors flanking the inner window. A cast-iron verandah with six elliptical arches on thin octagonal posts and open spandrels is present. The rear of the paved area is enclosed by late 20th-century walls and railings.

Historically, this entrance served the west or Willems Cavalry Barracks, which has since been demolished. It was part of a new approach to barracks planning and was one of the original three permanent cavalry barracks built as part of the Wellington Lines in Aldershot.