Royal Marine Barracks East Barrack Block And Forecourt Railings

The Royal Marine Barracks consist of the East Barrack Block and forecourt railings, constructed between 1781 and 1883. Built for the Ordnance Board by Templer and Parlby, the block was extended around 1818 and again circa 1860, with a substantial internal rebuild occurring around 1965. The building is constructed from Plymouth limestone rubble with limestone dressings, and features dry slate roofs with hipped ends and stone coping over cross walls. Originally a very long rectangular single-depth plan, the block now presents a 12:3:10:5:10:3-bay range, which was symmetrical before the 12-bay northern extension was added. The original central 5-bay section is pedimented, and the original 3-bay end blocks project forward, with rusticated quoins. A band runs above the ground floor. The windows are largely early 19th century hornless sashes with glazing bars, supplemented by later replacements of a similar style, all set within plain stone architraves. Original doorways are located in the centre of the pedimented block and within each 5-window range of the 10-window sections, with further doorways to the left and right of the 3-window ranges and approximately central to the northern extension. Segmental-arched heads feature above the doorways to the northern extension. A segmental-arched tunnel passes beneath the entrance. The rear of the main block is plain, while the northern extension has four shallow projecting ablution towers to the rear. The interior was completely rebuilt around 1965. Late 19th century wrought-iron railings, latticed and scrolled, surround the forecourt and flank the steps. This is one of the earliest surviving barracks for a large unit of men in England, and part of the only remaining complex built for the three divisions of the Royal Marines after their formation in 1755. It originally contained single-depth rooms separated by transverse stairs, with a passage between the officers' mess at the south end being built over in 1818. The complex at Stonehouse is the oldest and most important barracks in England, not forming part of a fortification; it represents a rare example of 18th-century planning and a complex of significant historical value.