c.1897 K Block is a two storey former wagon shed constructed of yellow English bonded brickwork with a pitched slate roof. The building is divided into 3 sections. The N section has original doorways and windows including large loading doors on the first floor. The other 2 sections have much altered door and window openings. The interior of the building is reasonably intact with cast iron columns along the centre supporting the upper floor. Based on information from Colchester Garrison: Historic Building Assessment, Ingram consultanc (Ingram 2000) which considers this to be a building of secondary significance within the Artillery Barracks (Flagstaff / DCTA) group of buildings. [Garrison Buildings Group 1] Ingram: building quality C Ingram: group value B/C ---------- Chbf: The wagon shed, dated c.1897, must have been built as part of the building programme at Colchester camp of the late 1890s and early 1900s, which was funded by the Military Loans System established in 1890 by the Barracks Act. £4.1 million was raised, half of which was used to complete the reconstruction in 'permanent materials' of the 'great camps' of Aldershot, Colchester, Shornecliffe and the Curragh near Dublin, and to replace the huts on Woolwich Heath (Douet 1998). The size of the Army was increased in 1897/8 and 1899/1900. By the Military Works Act of 1899, more funding was allocated to the 'great camps' at Colchester and the Curragh near Dublin, and for the building of a new 'great camp' at Tidworth (Douet 1998) (see history below). ---------- [In 1866, Colchester became the headquarters of the Army's newly-formed Eastern District, and it was one of the Army's four 'great camps' in Britain (with Aldershot, Shornecliffe, and the Curragh near Dublin). In 1872, the Military Localisation Bill provided the blueprint for the reorganisation of the British Army, with 66 districts for infantry regiments, 12 for artillery and 2 for cavalry (Douet 1998); infantry, artillery and cavalry regiments were stationed at Colchester camp. The brick Cavalry Barracks at Colchester were built in two phases in 1862-4. The brick Artillery Barracks were built next to the Cavalry Barracks in the early 1870s, in the Army's great localisation programme after 1872. The infantry in Colchester were housed in the hutment barracks between Mersea Road and Military Road until 1896, from which date the huts were replaced by brick barracks (1896-1904, Hyderabad and Meeanee Barracks; Douet 1998). The hutted hospital was also closed and the brick Military Hospital opened in 1896. The building programme at Colchester camp of the late 1890s and early 1900s was funded by the Military Loans System established in 1890 by the Barracks Act. £4.1 million was raised, half of which was used to complete the reconstruction in 'permanent materials' of the 'great camps' of Aldershot, Colchester, Shornecliffe and the Curragh near Dublin, and to replace the huts on Woolwich Heath (Douet 1998). The size of the Army was increased in 1897/8 and 1899/1900. By the Military Works Act of 1899, more funding was allocated to the 'great camps' at Colchester and the Curragh near Dublin, and for the building of a new 'great camp' at Tidworth (Douet 1998).] Original Artillery Barracks plans: two external boundary walls, one with gateway; one internal boundary wall with gateway; 1 block of officers' quarters, 6 blocks of stables with soldiers' accommodation above (A-F); 2 blocks of accommodation for married soldiers, each with an outside standpipe, sink and trough; 2 blocks of infirmary stables; 2 small blocks of men's latrines, each with a separate sergeants' latrine and a dung pit; 2 small women's latrines; trees; 3 x 'sentry beat' structures; a canteen and sergeants' mess; 'offices' near the main gate; 1 block of gunsheds; a guard house which included a guard room, a prisoners' room, engine house, 'CRA', 'clerks', and 'COAA'; the water tower; 2 x maneges; 2 x lunging circles; forage store; granary; laundry; coal yard; and parade ground. There were two differents plans for the blocks of stables with accommodation over, and each block included different 'offices' (ie the adult school', cook house, infant school, tailors' shop, stores for meat and bread, forge, wheelwrights' shop, shoe makers' shop). The boundary wall on Butt Road also marked the War Department boundary. The plans were signed ?Jno. S. Mulley and were signed off by 'J. R. Somerset Colonel R.E. / C.R.E. Eastern District' [the Royal Engineers]. Surviving buildings of the original Artillery Barracks: water tower; external boundary wall and gateway; officers' mess; stable/accommodation blocks A and B; the canteen and sergeants' mess. Later buildings which survive: NAAFI (1937), dining room and cook house (c 1935), store (1904), infirmary stables (c 1900), adult school building (1884), wagon shed (K block, c 1897), and carpenters' shop. Notes on the plans: '... Cubical space per Man - 700 cubic feet " " " Horse - 1740 " " ...' Notes on ventilation '... Adult school for 32 scholars Infant school for 30 children Recreation and reading rooms, Library and Librarians' Qrs., Coffee Bar, Sergeants' Mess and Canteen keeper's Qrs. are all provided in Canteen - Bat. Ord.y R.M., harness, collar makers' shop ...' Table of Accommodation: Field officers - 2 Officers - 10 Married soldiers - 32 NCOs and men - 288 Horses - Officers - 18 Troop - 186 Hospital patients - Nil Infirmary stables - Stalls - 9 Loose boxes - 4 Capacity of magazine stores - 2,500 lbs each In an aerial photo. of 1927, the Flagstaff compound is described as the R.A. Ordnance Depot (National Monuments Record, 'Britain from Above' project) - see image at http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw018554 Plan of the garrison in 1949 from CAT Report 97. Converted to residential in 2016.