The Old Barracks

CIRENCESTER

SP0102 CECILY HILL 578-1/3/59 (North side) 23/07/71 No.44 The Old Barracks

GV II

Former armoury, now offices and storage. 1857. Rock faced snecked limestone with vermiculated dressings; roofing felt on flat roof. 10 stone ridge and corbelled-out lateral stacks with moulded stone caps. Building is large mock castle which breaks forward as square and round towers to left and right; 3-storey square tower with stair turret to centre. 2 storeys and cellar; 9-window range. First floor has 8 groups of paired and triple lancets with trefoil heads in chamfered stone surrounds with iron casements under relieving arches; oriel window with 4 similar lancets to centre. One similar lancet to second floor of central tower. 17 similar single lancets to ground floor. Pair of diagonal boarded doors with decorated strap hinges in chamfered stone surround with 4-centred arched head to centre. Deep battered plinth in darker grey stone. Moulded stone cornice supported on brackets; embattled parapet. Bold machicolated embattled parapet to stair turret on central tower. Arrow slits and cruciform slits on central tower and stair turret and circular tower to right. Rear elevation is similar but basement exposed because of fall of ground has arcade and windows with elliptically-arched openings. Probable former ramped approach to double doors on ground floor now removed. INTERIOR has undergone C20 alterations; entrance hall has vaulted ceiling with moulded stone ribs; cast-iron doors to ground floor corridor and stairs to basement and on first floor; similar iron shutters to windows in ground floor corridor and in ground floor room of circular tower. First floor ceilings of vaulted fire-proof construction. Originally constructed as the armoury of the Royal North Gloucestershire Militia. (The Buildings of England: David Verey: Gloucestershire: The Cotswolds: London: 1970-: P 177; Viner DJ: Cirencester As It Was: Nelson, Lancashire: 1983-: P.22).

Listing NGR: SP0184302151