The works were planned by the Barrack Department of the Board of Ordnance under Colonel de Lancy. The Barrack Department was notorious for its laxity, especially in accounting: it was only in 1806-7, after de Lancy had resigned, that the mess was sorted out by a military enquiry. 

The block was built originally as a temporary building. The barracks and nearby hospital (originally near Redoubt No.4 but no longer in existence) were probably built between about 1784 and 1787: no contemporary records or plans exist, probably because Richmond and Pitt didn’t want to be challenged over it, especially following their defeat in parliament. 

The barracks was probably designed by James Johnson and John Sanders, Principal Architects for the Barracks Department. The build was of rubble masonry stone and brick with concrete floors and timber roof at a cost of £6,509 by John Scobell. Ventilating & Register grates and foul & fresh air extracting shafts were fitted. The water supply was from the roofs with iron and terracotta pipes connecting them to a tank at the rear, then from there by force-pump to a cistern over the oil store; there was also a 26’ well with cast-iron pillar-pump. Moule’s earth closets and other drainage was by terracotta pipes to the surface of the nearby fields.

Source: A military History – Brian Rayden

The Barrack block is now in the ownership of the Rame Conservation Trust. Considerable restorative and conservation work is ongoing with the support and advice from Historic England.

Today the Barrack block provides working spaces for a variety of local creative businesses.

If you would like a tour of the Barrack Block please contact us. Organised groups are welcome.