Building record 86/1/35 - Former Weedon Barracks, East Lodge/Gatehouse

{1} Gatehouse. Early C19th (complex begun in 1803). Yellow brick, slate roof, brick ridge stacks. 2-storey, 4-window range. Entrance front, facing inwards, has round-arched staircase/bridge spanning canal with iron handrails and perron giving access to first floor doorway. 12-pane sash windows throughout. Stone cornice and blocking course. Octagonal timber cupola with round clock face and octagonal leaded dome with weathervane. East front facing outwards has recessed centre and blank windows to ground floor. Round-headed arch spanning canal with portcullis. Cupola contains striking clock signed 'Jno Thwaites and Co. Clerkenwell London 1814'.

{3} Gatehouse. 1811-14. Flemish bond yellow brick with gauged brick arches, on sandstone ashlar plinth with moulded stone ashlar cornice; low ashlar parapet to hipped slate roof with brick stacks; cast-iron hoppers and lead rainwater pipes to parapet gutters.
Plan: ground floor comprises two rooms flanking the canal, each entered by a central doorway in the end wall; 3 rooms above.
Elevation: 2 storeys; 4-window range. Main front to west has semi-circular arched staircase/bridge spanning canal with iron handrails leading to perron and door giving access to first floor. Late C19 horned 6/6-pane sashes throughout. Octagonal painted wood cupola with round clock face octagonal leaded dome with weathervane. Rear elevation to east has recessed centre and blank windows to ground floor either side of semi-circular arch spanning canal, with portcullis. Cupola contains striking clock signed 'Jno Thwaites and Co. Clerkenwell London 1814'.
Interior: Some original flush-beaded doors and joinery, mostly refitted late C19. The central unheated room has a winding mechanism for raising and lowering the portcullis, all concealed by panelled boxing and supported by a trussed timber trestle. King-post trusses.
Part of a unique planned military-industrial complex, complete with its own defensible transport system and surrounding walls. For full details of the site see description of Storehouse No 2.

{4} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/171 (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 2:15PM