Guardroom, Christchurch Barracks

The Guardroom at Christchurch Barracks is a mid-19th century guard house constructed from red Flemish bond brick with black headers and features a tiled hipped roof. It has a single-depth, T-shaped plan and is a single storey building with a symmetrical front that includes a five-window range. The central doorway, which is framed by red rubbed brick headers, contains a six-panel door. The building also features horned six-over-six pane sash windows and a five-bay verandah supported by cast-iron posts. Atop the structure is a square timber clock tower with a bellcote, open round arches, and a weather vane. To the right side, there are paired windows, and at the rear of the front section, there is a round-arched doorway with a half-glazed door. The interior is plain and lacks special features. Historically, clock towers were commonly used as entrances to barracks in the mid-19th century, similar to the Horseshoe Barracks in Southend. Christchurch Barracks was originally built around 1792 as a cavalry barracks and later served as an Artillery and Engineers' barracks. It underwent partial rebuilding during the Cardwell reforms of the 1870s and is part of a group with the former cavalry barrack block.