Former Royal Naval Hospital, 17 The Square and attached wall

This is an officer’s house, part of the former Royal Naval Hospital, built in the mid-19th century. It is located at 17 The Square in Stonehouse, Plymouth, along with an attached wall. The house is constructed from dressed Plymouth limestone with a dry slate roof, a moulded stone parapet, and a pediment to the west gable. It has stuccoed, panelled lateral stacks with moulded cornices. The interior has not been inspected.

The building’s plan is of a single depth. It is two storeys high with a two-window range. Features include rusticated quoins, a plat band, bracketed moulded eaves to the blocking course, and coped end pediment gables. Console hoods shelter the ground floor windows of the two-window south range, which are linked by a string. Plain openings are above, with horned sashes; two lower sashes have glazing bars. The right-hand return has a doorway and a small 6/6 pane sash. The left-hand return has a chimney. The rear elevation, of three bays, mirrors the detailing of the front.

A wall to the rear extends alongside a lane, connecting with numbers 1-3 The Square. Historically, this house, along with the adjacent property, housed the subaltern guard of the Royal Marines, preventing desertions. This role was taken over by the Admiralty Constabulary in the mid-19th century. The main south gate of the hospital was located between these houses until 1911. The house is part of an impressive, largely intact military hospital complex.