HMS Drake Clock Tower South East of Main Gates and Attached Guardhouse

Details

PLYMOUTH

SX4556NW SALTASH ROAD, Devonport 740-1/32/164 (West side) 01/05/75 HMS Drake: Clock Tower south-east of Main Gates and attached Guardhouse

GV II

Formerly known as: (HMS Drake) Clock Tower south-east of Main Gates SALTASH ROAD Devonport. Clocktower and attached guardhouse on naval base. Completed 1896, under Superintendent Engineer Lt-Colonel P Smith RE. MATERIALS: Plymouth limestone: ashlar to tower with channelled rustication to lower stages, guardroom block with rock-faced basement, otherwise dressed limestone brought to course; dry slate roof behind parapet with moulded entablature; stone stacks with moulded cornices. Free Classical style. PLAN: overall irregular plan incorporating square clocktower flanked by rectangular guardroom blocks. EXTERIOR: single-storey guardhouse over basement to lower ground on right; 4 stages plus diminishing stages to clocktower; guardhouse right of clocktower is regular 5-window range. Tetrastyle prostyle entrance loggia on stylobate to tower but with paired columns with fluted upper parts and larger unfluted corner columns; fielded panels under windows to side bays and return bays, and overlight to central doorway; moulded entablature under balustraded parapet with central crest. Tower stage above entrance floor has small paired lights to sides. Balcony entablature above with balustraded balconies on console brackets in front of 2-light windows with round-arched lights and portcullis-like overlights. At this stage the tower is made to look lighter with cavetto-on-plan corners. Above the windows are triangular pediments. The next stage has recessed corners with flanking pilasters; balustraded entablature below clock face to each side and machicolated cornice to iron balustraded shielded walk with chamfered corners to a diminished stage also with chamfered corners and chamfered and pilastered window openings above. The further diminished stage above this has a similar balcony over a moulded cornice and has smaller similar windows surmounted by triangular pediments. Above this the chamfered corners have slender buttresses and there is a balustraded parapet entablature plus finally a flagpole. Guardhouse right of clocktower has tall original 12-pane sashes within pedimented architraves, the pediments linked by moulded cornices and there is a moulded sill string and

panelled aprons. Right-hand return has 4-light oriel on brackets and surmounted by a coved entablature and a triangular pediment with a dentilled cornice linked to parapet cornice of front. Segmental-arched basement doorway with console keyblock and pair of planked doors. INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORY: a notable tall clock tower, an unusual component of a barracks, enriched by a wide variety of decoration. Built as part of the final phase of construction for the barracks, although the design may have been settled when the barracks was begun in the 1870s since the later buildings are consistent with the earliest. Forms part of one of the finest and most complete barracks in England, manifesting the importance and status of the Royal Navy at this time. (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Devon: London: 1989-: 655 & 656).



Listing NGR: SX4503456734

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

473750

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Devon, (1989), 655-656

End of official list entry

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