Building record 86/1/56 - Former Weedon Barracks, Outer Wall, South-East & South-West Bastions & Gate Piers to South-East

Early 19th-century defensive walls and bastion of Napoleonic military complex.

{1} Enclosure walls, south east and south west bastions and gatepiers to south east. Red brick, Flemish bond, plinth bond, with stone coping; south east and south west corner bastions of massive character with ramparts carried on brick arcaded and stone-paved staircases up with ramps attached. Stone-capped gatepiers. C20 gates.

{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.

{4} Enclosure walls, south-east and south-west bastions and gate-piers to south-east. Flemish bond red brick with stone coping to walls and stone-capped gate piers; C20 gates. 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 has low parapet with stone coping and is accessed by ramps with stone-paved stairs. Pintle hinges and fittings for doors. Some original wooden slatted doors, hung from pintle hinges mounted in stone anchor blocks Square concrete base in corner for anti-aircraft machine guns installed early in World War II. Loopholes, which are probably later insertions ordered in 1831, enlarged in late C19. Complete section of enclosure walls to southern perimeter of site, and extending northwards to meet the East Lodge and West Lodge; gate piers flank entrance to south-east.
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.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/174 (checked) (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> English Heritage, 2000, Listed Buildings Online, (checked) (Database). SNN105526.

<5> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.43 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<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.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 12:39PM