North Yard Offices (N 215) And Attached Front Walls

A terrace of offices was constructed in 1903 and 1910 to serve the Keyham extension of the Devonport Dockyard. The building is built of limestone ashlar with slate roofs and a classical style, based on a double-depth plan.

The exterior facade comprises three blocks of three-storey terraces, linked by recessed two-storey bays, with the ground level rising towards the south. The north terrace has a 3:13:3 window arrangement, with plat bands and a cornice to the parapet. Pilasters support pedimented outer three-window bays and a slightly projecting central one-window entrance bay. It features horned 6/6 pane sash windows, and a hollow-moulded architrave to the rusticated entrance, topped by pilasters framing tripartite windows (pedimented to the first floor), and a date panel above the cornice. A terrace wall with steps and lamps extends to the front, terminating next to the central terrace.

The central terrace boasts a 4:3:4:3:4 window arrangement, with pilasters framing three-window pedimented bays, plat bands, a cornice to the parapet, and a battered plinth of rougher stone. The 6/9-pane sashes on the two-storey elevation are the same height as those on the flanking terraces. An entrance is situated within a three-window pedimented bay on the right, featuring a continuous cornice broken by a pedimented tripartite window with pilasters above a semi-circular arched, rusticated entrance.

The south terrace has a 2:3:2:3:2 window arrangement, with chamfered surrounds to the horned 6/6-pane sashes, bracketed cornices to the parapets, and battered walls to slightly projecting two-window outer bays and a narrow central entrance bay with paired smaller sashes. A bolection-moulded doorway leads to a porch with a cornice.

The interiors retain original joinery, including doors, and open-well staircases. The building's plain but prominent facade forms an important part of the Keyham extension, linking the former dockyard entrance (now the Police House) with the retaining wall behind the Quadrangle and marking a significant period of expansion in the Dockyard. The building is part of a group including the Police House, retaining wall, and Quadrangle.