Building record 86/1/48 - Former Weedon Barracks, Storehouse no.8

{1} Former barrack block. C.1810. Red brick, hipped slate roof. 2-storey-and-basement, 11-window range. Stands on south side of canal and has central doors with 12-panel double-leaf doors flanked by stone pilasters supporting entablature with tripartite sash window with cambered head to first floor above. Similar wider blocked doorway either end, with similar windows above. Ground floor windows have round-headed arches heads and large 2-light casements and are set in round-headed recesses. 12-pane sash windows to first floor. Centre and ends project slightly. Plinth, first floor string course, stone cornice and blocking course. Built over basement to south with grey sandstone vermiculated rustication and round-headed arches containing nail studded doors. Centre projects. Interior: basement has brick tunnel-vaults to each bay. 3 rows of stop-chamfered timber posts support floor above. One of the better preserved blocks. Short section of retaining wall to either end.

{3} Warehouse. 1804-10, and one of an even-numbered group to the south side of the canal. Flemish bond red brick with gauged brick dressings to arches, hipped slate roof replacing M-shaped Welsh roof. Rectangular plan with central vestibule with stairs opening into flanking storerooms. 2 storeys, 11-window range to north elevation facing canal. Central doors with 12-panel double-leaf doors flanked by stone pilasters supporting Doric entablature with cambered arches over tripartite sash windows above. Similar wider blocked doorways either end, with similar windows above. Semi-circular arched ground-floor windows, being 2-light wooden casements of late C19 date, set in semi-circular arched recesses. Late C19 horned 6/6-pane sashes to first floor. Centre and ends project slightly. Plinth and first-floor string course. Unusual for the survival of its stone cornice and blocking course. Brick parapet. The south elevation is similar but makes use of the fall of the land to accommodate a basement storey; this is treated in a robust classical manner, with grey sandstone vermiculated rustication and semi-circular arches over original nail-studded plank doors beneath louvred tympanae. The centre bay projects, having iron railings that open out to the central loading area. There is a short section of retaining wall, with steps rising to canal basin area, to either end. Interior: basement has brick tunnel vaults to each bay. 3 rows of stop-chamfered timber posts with pillow beams support first floor. Steel trusses of 1938, when roofs remodelled. Open string staircase with chamfered and scroll-stopped newels, diamond-set balusters and moulded handrail. Semi-circular arched doorways, set in semi-circular arched recesses, provide access to storerooms. This building has the most complete range of surviving features, including pivots for a jig crane and a wall-mounted hydraulic jigger with pulley wheel, from the hydraulic crane system installed on the site c1886.

Part of a unique planned military-industrial complex, complete with its own defensible transport system and surrounding walls. For full details see description of Storehouse No 2.

{4} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/185 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F06 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, Ongoing, National Heritage List for England, (checked) (Website). SNN107872.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Weedon Bec (Photographs). SNN114204.

Record last edited

Oct 12 2022 12:41PM