Building record MCC3121 - Officers’ Stables, Cavalry Barracks, Colchester Garrison

Summary

One of the two Officers’ Stables built in c.1862-4, to the northwest of the Officers' Quarters. The two stables blocks (the southern block had been already demolished), with walls to the west and east, formed an enclosed stable yard with drinking troughs and a central dung-pit.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 9895 2419 (46m by 40m)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

The northwest half of building was subject to a programme of historic building recording in 2011, prior to demolition; the south-east half had been demolished by the MOD prior to recording.<1><2>

A single-storey long rectangular structure, aligned NW to SE, of red brick laid in Flemish bond, with a small storage shed built onto the north-western end. The south-eastern end has been demolished, but map evidence suggests that a storage shed was attached to this end of the building also. The roof is pitched and covered with asbestos slates, and is fitted with a range of roof lights. Original features include a low red brick plinth, window and door heads of arched alternating red and yellow bricks, the use of York stone for sills and kerbs, and a drainage channel of Staffordshire blue bricks around the footprint of the building.<1>

The surviving north-east elevation contains a brick porch at the northwestern end leading to an enclosed space with an original door at either end. Beyond the far door is a brick porch projecting from the south-western façade of the main building. The entrance to this porch has been bricked in. To the left of the porch entrance, at the northern corner of the main range, is a bricked-in doorway. An identical doorway is located at the western corner. The north-western wall has a range of three windows, each of ten lights with glazing bars. These open inwards on side-mounted pivots and are operated by a means of a long metal chain. Four identical windows and one which has been bricked in can be found on the north-east elevation, which also contains two large entrances. Both have large double wooden plank doors, the ones furthest north openingoutwards with a concrete lintel above. This is a later insertion to the façade and has completely removed a window. The entrance closer to what would have been the centre of the building has doors opening inwards with the characteristic brick arch above. This second entrance is original and opens into a corridor dividing the building. Doorways at each corner of this corridor (now bricked in) originally provided access to the interior of the stable in the same configuration as those at the north-western end of the building. In effect, the building comprises two separate stable blocks. The building has been demolished up to the wall forming this corridor, but map evidence suggests that this was the centre point for a line of symmetry and the main building has been reconstructed accordingly. Map evidence suggests that the storage shed at the south-eastern end had a south-west projecting porch added sometime after 1921, and a photograph from the Ingram historic building assessment (2000) shows the entrances at the corners of the building to have been reduced in height and width. The same photograph also shows that the area in front of these entrances was originally paved with granite setts.

The south-west elevation is identical to the north-east elevation in layout, but this has two bricked-in windows and the later entrance is also blocked.
The central entrance on this elevation has been reduced in width and height.

The interior of the Officers’ Stable is a large empty space with a concrete and tile floor. Five wooden trusses held by iron bolts and banding support two large purlins on either side of the ridgeline. Originally the four doors at the ends of the block each had a sliding top section and a swing hung lower section and would have provided access to a walkway paved with Staffordshire blue blocks around the perimeter of the stable. Off this walkway were individual horse stalls (eleven to a side) separated by metal bars hanging from chains fastened to a central masonry spine and iron posts. Although no trace remains of this, a litter shed was attached to the south-west elevation facing the enclosed stable yard.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Historic Building Recording: Lister, Chris (CAT). 2011. Building recording at Area K1, the former Cavalry Barracks, Butt Road, Colchester, Essex May 2011. CAT Report 606.
  • <2> Historic Building Recording: Ingram Consultancy Ltd. 2000. Colchester Garrison, Colchester. Historic Building Assessment. IC 8, Group 3.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jul 21 2017 2:25PM

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