Listing Text

PLYMOUTH

SX45NW SALTASH ROAD, Devonport
740-1/4/168 (West side)
01/05/75 HMS Drake: Drill Shed

GV II

Formerly known as: (HMS Drake) Indoor Parade Ground Building
SALTASH ROAD Devonport.
Drill shed. 1879-86, Superintendent Engineer Lt-Col P Smith,
RE; doubled in size 1907. Plymouth limestone ashlar with steel
frame behind; flat roof hidden by parapet. Large rectangular
plan.
EXTERIOR: single storey; symmetrical 1:9:1:9:1-bay front.
Plinth, rusticated pilasters dividing bays, parapet
entablature and segmental arches to openings. Wide central
entrance bay and narrow blind end bays broken forward and
surmounted by pediments. The 9-bay side elevations, also
symmetrical, each have 2 large entrances (3rd and 7th bays)
with rusticated columns supporting entablature with large
segmental pediment and the terminal bays are identical to
those of the front.
INTERIOR: noted as having iron supports to an iron-trussed
roof.
HISTORY: sailors lived in hulks until the first barracks were
built here at Devonport in the late C19, followed by similar
designs at Chatham and Portsmouth; HMS Drake was the only one
built in ashlar. Sheds for indoor drill were introduced into
barracks during the 1880s, and this is comparable with the
very large examples at the other two naval barracks. Part of
one of the finest and most complete barracks in England,
manifesting the status and importance of the Royal Navy at
this time.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Devon: London: 1989-:
655 & 656).

Listing NGR: SX4478456778