Building 59 (Examining Room), Rnad Bull Point

The building, designated Building 59 (Examining Room) at RNAD Bull Point, is a store and shell examining room constructed by 1866, with origins in 1856/7. It is built of Plymouth limestone ashlar with rock-faced quoins, plinth, and dressings, and has a corrugated sheet roof.

The building has a rectangular plan and a single storey. The front elevation has a four-window range. A central segmental-arched doorway is flanked by flat-headed windows, each containing a 6/6-pane horned sash. The rear elevation features a three-window range, and two windows are present in the end gables.

The interior retains timber trusses, panelled window shutters, and matchboarding to the walls.

Originally designated an Examining Room for shell and explosive inspection, this building is one of the key functional buildings at Bull Point, situated within a group extending from the magazine enclosure. Bull Point, the last major project of the Board of Ordnance (abolished 1856), provided storage for 40,000 barrels of powder. It operated in conjunction with the St Budeaux laboratory of 1805, where powder was checked and processed before being taken to the magazines. Bull Point was designed from the outset for the processing and storage of new ordnance, which significantly impacted naval ship and fortification design. All the buildings, predominantly in ashlar with rock-faced dressings and fronting an avenue south of the magazines, share a consistent style with the magazines themselves. The ensemble represents the finest example within any Ordnance Yard, reflecting the high standards practiced by the Ordnance Board in its designs for fortifications and barracks from the 17th century, and showcases a remarkable example of integrated factory planning from the period. For a comprehensive history of the site, refer to Building 13.