Royal Artillery Officers' Mess and Quarters (LA320)

Royal Artillery Officers' Mess and Quarters

An officers' mess and quarters built between 1936 and 1941, designed by William A. Ross ARIBA, Chief Architect to the War Office.

The building is constructed of red brick laid in stretcher bond over a steel frame with ferro-concrete details, and tile roofs. The facades have ashlar dressings and the principal rooms feature timber sash windows, though some windows have been replaced with uPVC.

The plan is loosely E-shaped with additional smaller wings projecting from the ends of the main block into the service yard. A kitchen block is attached to the north of the central mess hall wing. Further quarters blocks are connected to the east via an L-plan arrangement and to the west via a C-plan arrangement, linked by curved covered corridors. The main south-facing facade has a portico opening into a central entrance hall flanked by large reception rooms, with stairs to the rear leading to the mess hall. The central block rises to three storeys and is flanked by two-storey side wings set slightly back. Stairs at each end provide access to bed-sitting rooms above. Cross wings extending to the rear of the side wings contain bed-sitting rooms on both floors. Additional quarter blocks contain bed-sitting rooms with various auxiliary spaces.

The exterior is in the neo-baroque style. The central block spans thirteen bays, with set-back eight-bay sections at each end. A projecting stone entrance portico features four pairs of Doric columns with entablature and a parapet with balustrade above. The back wall has Doric pilasters beside a two-leaf main door and two six-over-six sash windows. At first-floor level a central door and flanking windows sit within an ashlar case with Ionic pilasters. Above the door is a scrolled pediment with ball finial and an oval opening above. At ground floor there are five tall round-arched sash windows to both sides interspersed with three six-over-six sashes and, at the end, a door with rusticated case, open pediment and multi-paned fanlight. Each door has a keystone inscribed "GR VI 1941" with the emblem of the Crown. An ashlar band forms the arches, heads and keystones of the openings. At first and second floor levels are paired openings with six-over-six sashes and stone cills. The hipped pantile roof has curled oversailing eaves and four ridge stacks. The side wings have rubbed brick flat arches to the ground floor openings, and the end bay features an ashlar architrave with consoles and pediment. The curved connecting corridors are single storey with a central door with consoles and pediment and two windows to each side, articulated by brick pilasters. The attached quarter blocks have similar architectural treatment to the side wings, though the central two-leaf door has a scrolled pediment with a shield in relief inscribed "GR VI 1941" and a crown in relief above. The rear and side elevations of the blocks and wings have regular fenestration with brick heads to the ground floor openings. An ashlar plinth runs across the buildings, and downpipes punctuate elevations between some bays. The rear of the central block is two storeys with a flat roof. The wing attached to the mess hall is single storey, and further single-storey brick structures are arranged within the service yard.

The officers' mess hall to the rear has tall openings to each side elevation under flat rubbed brick arches with keystones. Three openings retain multi-paned glazing and four are sealed in brick. The roof is hipped. The north service wing has a six-bay two-storey central block with round-arched openings to the ground floor and sashes above, and brick end stacks in the hipped roof. To each side is a seven-bay single-storey block with attic dormers and ridge stacks.

The interior fixtures and fittings survive largely intact. The vestibule contains a part-glazed oak revolving door and a bronze bas-relief by Reginald J Day of 1938 depicting artillery cavalry with guns. The entrance hall has parquet flooring, paired reeded pilasters with gilt capitals featuring acanthus leaves, and a deep cornice and mouldings to the ceiling. The door architraves, reception desk and oak wainscoting to the rear staircase are of oak. The staircase leads to the officers' mess hall doors, which are decoratively panelled oak. The stairs are lit by a large lantern set in a deeply coved ceiling. To both sides of the doors are glazed cabinets containing regimental silver and Corinthian columns supporting a deep cornice. The mess hall has a barrel vault ceiling with ribs and a suspended central section with painted detailing, air vents and a central chandelier, with four other chandeliers hanging from the ribs. The ribs connect with a deep cornice with paired gilded capitals on reeded pilasters. The sealed window openings are covered by large portraits, mainly of 19th and 20th century British monarchs. At the north end is a round-arched minstrel gallery above two-leaf doors to both sides. In front of the gallery is a statue to Armed Science.

The principal rooms to both sides of the lobby have glazed oak doors and window seats with heating vents. There is a dado with a moulded rail and a simple ceiling cornice. Chimneypieces at the end of each room are in various vernacular styles. The room to the east has folding partition doors by a central fireplace. Other rooms and corridors have simple cornices, door architraves and other joinery.