Hms Drake St Nicholas Road Exmouth Block

PLYMOUTH

SX45NW SALTASH ROAD, Devonport 740-1/4/171 (West side) 08/07/98 HMS Drake: St Nicholas Road, Exmouth Block

GV II

Large barrack, one of 3 similar blocks. 1907. MATERIALS: Dressed Plymouth limestone brought to course and with limestone dressings; slate or asbestos slate roof behind parapets with moulded cornices to sides, and to projecting blocks, and behind pedimented gables with flanking panelled stone stacks with moulded entablature. STYLE: Free Classical. PLAN: overall long rectangular plan plus projecting corner wings and central wings to sides. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys; symmetrical 2:3:2-bay ends which are principal entrance fronts with central doorways with flanking pairs of windows. Doorways at slightly irregular intervals also to 2:8:2:8:2-bay sides. Mid-floor moulded entablature; Entrance fronts have keyed segmental arches to ground floor and pediments to centre of wings; keyed round arches to recessed pilastered openings to 1st floor and flat heads with pediments to 2nd floor. Returns of the corner blocks have similar detail to the fronts. The central wings of the sides have rock-faced pilasters dividing the bays and triangular pediments to the parapets. The long ranges set back between have pedimented hoods on brackets to 1st floor and consoles resembling machicolations above 2nd-floor windows. INTERIOR: not inspected but noted as having large dormitories with end corner wash rooms and central stairs. HISTORY: the last of 5 original barracks to be built; in their plan they followed the pavilion principle, better known for hospitals. They were originally fitted with hammocks. Sailors lived in hulks until their first barracks were built, first at Devonport, then Chatham and Portsmouth. They were built to similar plans, although only HMS Drake was of ashlar. Part of one of the finest and most complete barracks complexes in England, manifesting the importance and status of the Royal Navy at this time. (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Devon: London: 1989-: 655 & 656).

Listing NGR: SX4486356914