Description

TQ 3078 SW JOHN ISLIP STREET

1900/111/10199 Millbank Barracks SW range,
Royal Army Medical College

GV II

Barrack block. c1898, by the Royal Engineers for the Royal Army Medical Corps. Red brick with Portland stone quoins and dressings; gabled slate roof with tall brick stacks, mostly grouped along rear elevation. Rectangular plan. 4-storey NE elevation, with windows articulated into 2:3:3:3:2 pattern by 2-window projecting and pedimented outer and 3-window central wings each of 1-window depth. Plat band to stone ground floor, with arched ground-floor windows brought forward under balustrade and segmental-pedimented Doric doorcase to centre. The central block has keyed oculi (with clock to centre) above first-floor windows, and royal arms in typanum of pediment. Canted stair projections flank central wing: 8/12-pane sashes, set in Gibbs surrounds to first floor (pedimented to projecting bays and with cornices to other bays) and stone surrounds to other floors. Similar treatment to return elevations, with stacks surmounting open-pedimented and slightly-projecting central bays. Pedimented end bays flank rear elevations with similar windows, articulated into bays by strong treatment of lateral stacks. This block is flanked by single-storey ranges to either side, including a brick former guardhouse to right (with glazing bar sashes to single-storey and taller hipped range adjacent to entrance from John Islip Street) and a stone-faced former mess block to left with pedimented left-hand return and principal 4-bay front with casement windows and two doorways set into arcade with impost blocks and cornice exteding through to rendered projection on right.
Interior: not inspected.
HISTORY: The married quarters and barrack blocks serve to enclose the north-facing parade ground or square. Drawings for the married quarters (qv) were signed by CM Watson, the Inspector General of Fortifications, in 1898: it is probable, although not proven, that both barracks blocks were built to provide accommodation linked also to the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital (opened 1905), which was built on the north part of the huge Millbank Penitentiary Site. These are clearly related to barracks architecture in their planning but more elaborate both in their articulation and architectural quality than any other contemporary designs with the exception of the remarkable Peninsula Barracks in Winchester. They are principally included for their architectural quality and interest as part of this important group.

Listing NGR: TQ2999878449

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q27086070

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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