Former Royal Naval Hospital The Square Numbers 4 To 7 (Consecutive) And Walls And Railings

These are four officer's houses, now residential properties, dating from 1765 and designed by Alexander Rovehead for the Navy Board. The buildings were re-rendered in 1921. They form part of the former Royal Naval Hospital at Stonehouse, Plymouth.

The houses are built of red brick, now rendered, with a dry slate mansard roof and rendered brick stacks. They have a rectangular, double-depth plan. The three-storey front has twelve windows, with the central six projecting forward and topped by a triangular pediment. A plinth runs along the base, and a band sits above the ground floor, acting as a sill string to the first-floor windows. The windows are late 19th-century, four-pane, horned sash windows. The main entrance is in a triangular pedimented doorway with fluted pilasters, with another doorway to the left; both have glazed and panelled doors.

The interior of the houses has not been inspected, but is reported to be of interest.

Low rubble walls and original wrought-iron railings run along the rear of the property, linked to the former Stables.

The houses were originally built as four separate residences on the west side of the square, marking the end of the main axis through the hospital grounds. In 1800, they housed the physician, surgeon, steward, and agent, later being used as a mess. Stonehouse retains international significance due to its pioneering hospital design. The buildings are part of an exceptional, complete military hospital complex.