Summary : Four of the original 16 barrack block buildings surviving at Whittington Barracks. Three stand on the southern side of the parade ground and from east to west are known as Hatherton, Sutherland and Lichfield, built by 1881. A further block, named Dyott, built to a similar design in 1892 stands south of the Keep (AMIE UID 1507060). All four barrack blocks are two storey, large rectangular buildings with a centrally placed, slightly projecting gabled range with main doors. The buildings face north east, are constructed with red brick in stretcher bond, with blue brick sill and lintel banding and plinths, modern slate roofs and rain goods. A simple brick eaves cornice leads to gable shoulders topped by stepped brickwork and low coping. To the rear of each block is a centrally placed modern ablution block. The blocks whilst very similar in appearance have subtle differences and amongst the most obvious are a series of blocked up windows and doorways and wall clock at Sutherland House, the absence of end wall chimneys at Dyott and original windows in Hatherton. |
More information : [Part of report on Barracks, Commissariat Complex (AMIE UID 1516321), Quartermaster's Stores (AMIE UID 1516329) and Boundary Wall (AMIE UID 1516337).]
Whittington Barracks were built as part of a far reaching national modernisation programme carried out by the Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell during the 1870's. Work on the barracks started around 1877, was carried out by Harry Lovatt & Son of Wolverhampton and was completed by 1881 when they were occupied by the 1st and 2nd South Staffordshire Regiments and the 1st and 2nd North Staffordshire Regiments.
Edward Cardwell, appointed to the War Office in 1868, addressed a chronic recruitment issue through a process of reform set out in the Localisation Act of 1872. He set up a network of local depots each centred on an area with a population large enough to sustain it, rather than based on operational needs. It was the first national barrack building initiative in England during peacetime. Across Britain 29 new depots, including Whittington, were built from scratch, while about 40 existing barracks were adapted. The building programme was under the supervision of Major HC Seddon, Royal Engineers, Director of the Design Branch. The new barracks conformed to a standard model with local variations, and incorporated many of the improvements for which the Army Sanitation Commission and its predecessors had called.
Whittington Barracks has remained fully operational since 1881 and in this time has expanded, contracted and been altered to meet developing operational needs. Apart from the Staffordshire Regiments others also made use of the facilities from time to time and by 1902 enough accommodation had been added for the barracks to become a two battalion station. The war memorials were added in 1922, the church consecrated in 1924 (AMIE UID 1507044) and during World War II the barracks were occupied by the US Army. After the war the barracks were used by various units, some of the historic buildings demolished and new ones erected.
Three of the original 16 barrack block buildings survive at Whittington. All stand on the southern side of the parade ground and from east to west are known as Hatherton, Sutherland and Lichfield. A further block, named Dyott, built to a similar design in 1892 stands south of the Keep (AMIE UID 1507060). All four barrack blocks are two storey, large rectangular buildings with a centrally placed, slightly projecting gabled range with main doors. The buildings face north east, are constructed with red brick in stretcher bond, with blue brick sill and lintel banding and plinths, modern slate roofs and rain goods. A simple brick eaves cornice leads to gable shoulders topped by stepped brickwork and low coping. To the rear of each block is a centrally placed modern ablution block. The blocks whilst very similar in appearance have subtle differences and amongst the most obvious are a series of blocked up windows and doorways and wall clock at Sutherland House, the absence of end wall chimneys at Dyott and original windows in Hatherton.
Interior: The original layout of large barrack rooms either side of a central block with an iron balustrade stairwell, ablutions room, NCO's room and company store is still discernable. However all have seen varying degrees of alteration with the removal of walls, blocking of doorways, the addition of partitions and the insertion of the later ablution block at the rear. In particular, the stairs in Lichfield and Dyott were originally at the front of the building, but have been re-sited to the back. Most of the original brickwork is no longer visible but in the Lichfield block much of it is visible revealing a mixture of styles, generally of poor quality. Internal detailing to the spacious rooms is limited to crude brick skirting, chamfering to the sides of windows and doorways. Dyott is rather different internally, with each barrack room possessing a centrally placed lateral load bearing wall. Most of the barrack rooms have been partitioned by the creation of a corridor leading along the front of the building, however in Hatherton a single lateral partition has been inserted.
The assessment for each building group is provided separately below. It is however worth emphasising that a higher degree of selection is required for buildings constructed after 1840 on account of their greater survival. In particular architectural quality, planning interest, degree of alteration and group value with other related structures will be key considerations.
Originally 16 barrack blocks were built at Whittington. Of these, only three survive together with another example of slightly later date. All four blocks have seen almost continual use and have been upgraded, altered and re-furbished to meet developing operation needs. Architecturally the buildings are modest with very few embellishments, relying instead for their original presence on size, number and association with other now lost buildings. Compared with other buildings being erected at this time, the buildings are relatively plain enhanced only by blue brick banding, the central projecting range and a basic eaves cornice. The buildings rely on their symmetry for effect and this has been somewhat ruined by the demolition of their neighbours and the re-modelling of Sutherland.
Externally, the front of the buildings with the exception of Sutherland remain essentially unaltered, however all the roofs and rain goods are modern, the chimneys have been truncated and the windows replaced (except in Hatherton). The rear and side elevations have seen a greater degree of alteration. In particular, the removal of the original stairwell and ablution room turrets and addition of the modern ablution blocks has affected the rear, whilst the sides have been compromised by the insertion of fire exits.
Internally, continued use has resulted in the re-ordering of the available space and this has led to the blocking and insertion of doorways, removal of walls, blocking of chimneys and vents, insertion of partition walls and damage to the original architectural details including the sides of windows and sills. The insertion of false ceilings and modern floor coverings may be hiding interesting details, but given the degree of alteration elsewhere it is very unlikely that anything of significance will survive. The barrack blocks stand within a barrack station which has some buildings of interest. In particular, the war memorials, keep and Garrison Church all stand close to the barrack blocks. However, this association is not powerful enough to overcome the relatively simple architecture and considerable degrees of alteration and for these reasons the barrack blocks do not meet the standard for listing.
The Victorian barrack blocks, stores and much of the perimeter wall at Whittington Barracks have all seen considerable alteration, modification and refurbishment. This work has seriously undermined the significance of these buildings and structures, which although forming an interesting reminder of the Cardwell reforms on the British army are not well enough preserved to meet the standard for listing. (1) |