Dockyard Offices

Former dockyard engineer's offices built in 1848 by John Coode, extended and altered in 1890 and 1910, with later twentieth-century extensions and alterations.

The principal elevations are constructed of Portland ashlar, with the range to the west rendered. The extensions are built using brick and concrete block. The roofs are covered in slate.

The principal historic structure consists of two adjoining buildings attached in-line. The site is split level so that the south front is of two storeys with basement and the north front is of three storeys.

The façade is split into two distinct sections. The five-bay eastern façade is a front of 1890 to the 1848 office, executed in the Vanbrughian style with a 2:1:2 window arrangement. The central bay is set back under a pediment. The first floor has 12-pane sashes, but the ground floor has replaced twentieth-century windows. All windows are set in raised eared plat-band surrounds with three projecting keystones and plain cills. Central panelled doors are set in a slightly advanced plain pilaster portico. The wall has a small plain plinth, heavy pecked rusticated alternating quoins, a mid string course and a modillion cornice. The return to the right (east) has a plain wall with one replacement window to the ground floor. Very slightly brought forward is a single-bay unit in rusticated quoins with a 12-pane sash in a surround matching the façade treatment above a semi-octagonal bay window with 12-pane sashes to the ground and basement floors. There is a cornice and blocking course which continues to basement level. Attached to the north-east is a large twentieth-century brick addition of two storeys.

The four-bay west section of the façade is rendered and has 12-pane sashes with a panelled door with transom light in the right bay. There is a mid string course, cornice, blocking course and parapet. The west end of the north front has similar treatment. The three-bay gabled west front carries a small square clock tower of 1910 and has three 12-pane sashes at first floor under a single sash to the gable, and one at ground floor. The ground floor has a projecting bay to the centre and left, partly concealed by a later addition. The clock turret has a string course, clocks to all faces and a low pyramidal slate roof on moulded eaves. The openings across the north front have 12-pane sashes and those to the east have decorative architraves including some rustication. There are later twentieth-century additions on the west front and north side.

Internally, many of the historic fittings have been removed or refurbished, although some nineteenth and early twentieth-century joinery remains, much modified. The few remaining fireplaces appear to be of the 1910 phase. Areas of removed render to the north wall indicate the survival of the original 1848 construction.