Peninsular Barracks Mons Block

A military hospital, later used as barracks, was constructed in 1856. The building is red brick with grey brick headers and a slated roof. It follows a rectangular plan and extends over three storeys. A central stair provides access to corridors behind the north (front) elevation, from which six wards are accessible on each upper floor. A latrine block is located at the centre of the rear, and was extended in the later 19th century when two further blocks were added on either side. The front elevation has a five-bay, three-bay, five-bay arrangement, with the central section projecting forward and featuring a simple open pediment containing a circular vent. The central doorway has a six-panel flush door with side lights, all united by a fanlight with radial glazing bars under an elliptical gauged arch. The windows are sash windows with glazing bars and stone sills, set within gauged flat arches. Four large chimney stacks are positioned behind the ridge of the shallow-pitch roof. The hospital was one of the last to be built after the Crimean War, prior to reforms advocated by Florence Nightingale. In 1858, the Barrack and Hospital Improvement Commission criticised its layout, ventilation, and facilities.