Building record 86/1/59 - Former Weedon Barracks, Outer Wall & North-East Bastion

Early 19th-century defensive walls and bastions.

{1} Enclosure walls, gates and gatepiers to north-east and north-east bastion. Early C19. Red brick, Flemish bond, plinth bond, with stone coping in north-east corner bastion of massive character with ramparts carried on brick arcades and stone-coped gatepiers. C20 gates. Section of wall east of gap to east of centre of north enclosure wall is incorporated in brick wall of a later C20 building. Some later C19 or C20 rebuilding to east enclosure wall.

{3} Defensive walls and bastions, early C19th. Site upgraded to II*. Site underused for many years and in poor condition. Some scrub and ground clearance underway.

{5} Enclosure walls, gates and gatepiers to north-east bastion, for perimeter security of the site. 1804-10. Red brick in Flemish bond, with stone coping to NE bastion. Ten casemates built in groups of four and six along each side of the angle formed by the corner of the perimeter wall, these including a casemate at each end (probably for storage of artillery pieces) that flank a wall that spans the angle and is pierced by a central segmental-arched entrance. Semi-circular vaults to casemates, which are surmounted by bomb-proof layer of sand and gravel capped by a layer of bricks and finally a stone-flag walkway, which is accessed by ramps with stone-paved stairs and runways for the deployment of small artillery pieces (referred to in 1830 Ordnance Return). One loophole enlarged in late C19, this bastion not being as suited for the defence of the Depot on account of its poor field of fire. Pintle hinges and fittings for doors. C20 gates. Approx. 10m of perimeter wall extends to W, that to S extending to the East lodge (qv): this latter section includes a brick-faced concrete pillbox of 1940, with embrasures for machine guns facing into the main site, brick piers to two sets of entrances (that to N inserted for the site railway of 1899). Other late C19 and C20 extensions along the E enclosure wall are not of special interest.
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.

{6} Site underused for many years and in poor condition. Ongoing deterioration of outer walls, vegetation growth, and failure of localised joints. Outline scheme for reuse of site agreed at Public Inquiry in 2000 but has never been implemented. The Weedon Depot complex was sold in
early 2013 and the site is now home to various businesses. It is anticipated that a fabric condition survey will be prepared to inform priorities for action and establish costs for repair.

{8} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/173 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2008, Heritage at Risk Register, 2008, p.37 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN106096.

<4> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.43 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<5> Historic England (formerly English Heritage), Ongoing, National Heritage List for England, (checked) (Website). SNN107872.

<6> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 49 (Report). SNN110747.

<7> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 56 (Report). SNN111090.

<7> Historic England, 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p. 56 (Report). SNN111434.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Weedon Bec (Photographs). SNN114204.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 1:02PM