Hms Drake St Nicholas Road Exmouth Block

HMS Drake, located on St Nicholas Road, Exmouth Block, is a large barrack block built in 1907. It is one of three similar buildings. The construction utilizes dressed Plymouth limestone brought to course, with limestone dressings, and a slate or asbestos slate roof concealed behind parapets featuring moulded cornices. Projecting blocks have cornices, and pedimented gables are flanked by panelled stone stacks with a moulded entablature. The architectural style is Free Classical.

The building’s layout is a long rectangular plan with projecting corner wings and central wings along the sides. The exterior is three storeys high and exhibits symmetrical 2:3:2-bay sections on the principal entrance fronts, each featuring a central doorway and flanking pairs of windows. Doorways are also located at irregular intervals along the 2:8:2:8:2-bay sides of the building. A mid-floor moulded entablature runs along the facade. The entrance fronts feature keyed segmental arches over the ground-floor doorways, while the wings have pediments. Recessed, pilastered openings on the first floor have keyed round arches, and the second-floor windows are topped with flat heads and pediments. The corner blocks display similar detailing on their returns. The sides of the central wings feature rock-faced pilasters and triangular pediments to the parapets. Long ranges set back between the corner blocks have pedimented hoods on brackets above the first-floor windows and consoles resembling machicolations above the second-floor windows.

The interior, which has not been inspected, is characterised by large dormitories, end corner wash rooms, and central staircases. Originally, the building was fitted with hammocks. The barracks followed a “pavilion principle” similar to that used for hospitals. These were the last of five original barracks, built after sailors had previously lived in hulks. The initial barracks were built at Devonport, followed by those at Chatham and Portsmouth. Only HMS Drake was constructed with ashlar. The building forms part of one of the finest and most complete barrack complexes in England, reflecting the prominence and significance of the Royal Navy at the time.