Discovering Stonehouse

This tour was one of three organised during the Discovering Stonehouse programme is response to the considerable demand to visit the barracks. As a military headquarters, visits to the barracks are few and far between. Here is a map from the early 20th century which shows the layout of the site as it was then:

< Waiting for the rest of the group to arrive gave the chance to photograph the main nineteenth century frontage on Durnford Street

< Looking along the Durnford Street frontage

< And again. Note the railings.

One of the roundels which are either side of the main gate >

The other roundel >

Above the archway is a room used as the church of St Christopher>

< Here is one of the finials on the railings. A lion on top of a globe

< The frieze showing the royal coat of arms

< Eventually the group of forty had arrived...

...and were ready to cross Durnford Street and enter by the main gate >

Under the arch, Nigel introduced Gordon, our guide >

This list of King's Badgemen in the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines is on display under the arch >

< The entrance to the Royal Marines' church of St Christopher

< Gordon tells us about the history of the barracks

< Outside in the Parade Ground (now a large car park)

Inside the main entrance the time is 11.25 a.m. and the wind is from the south-west >

Matching roundels again >

And this one is Neptune >

< This movie gives you a 360º view of the parade ground

< The original barracks building

< The mound in the distance was named Bunker's Hill after the site in Boston, USA

In the expansion of the Barracks a tunnel was dug under the original main building>

Walking under the East Block...>

...brings you to this building, now used for sports >

< And outside in the distance is the Globe Theatre, a small early Victorian theatre in the Barracks

< Top right at houses in Caroline Place

< A pair of large doors in to the Globe Theatre, converted from a racquet court and hay loft

Another wall of the Globe, showing the curved feature better seen inside>

The stage of the Globe >

Note the coats of arms >

< The theatre, though small, has a circle...

< ...which takes up the "globe" theme

< Looking to the back of the stalls

One of the rows of seats >

Leaving the Globe >

And still leaving...>

< One of the difficulties of building on reclaimed land. This building has broken its back and awaits demolition

< One of the original buildings, the lefthand side was damaged in the Blitz

< Another early building

Entering the second Royal Marines site - The Longroom >

The original Longroom, dating from the mid-eighteenth century  >

A more utilitaring block adjacent to it >

< The group looks at one of Gordon's handouts

< Looking back to the main gate

< The security camera stands on a preserved pillar from the adjacent building

Walking up past the Longroom. It was gutted of its original interior many years ago >

A side view of the Longroom >

The gate to Sea Gate House >

< Sea Gate House, former residence of the Barracks physician

< Approaching Eastern Kings, with the grain silo much in evidence. Seen from the water on the earlier boat trip around Millbay

< A detail of the tower

And another >

The best view of the silo is from within the Barracks...>

...it is strongly reminiscent of the power stations of the period, like that converted into the Tate Modern>

< To the left of the silo is a more modern building built on top of an older house. Confusingly, it is also known as the Longroom and used as the Plymouth Port Control

< Views over Millbay

< With Millbay Marina in the background

An excellent view of Trinity Pier on the left and Millbay Pier on the right >

In the distance is Drake's Island >

Looking down at The Camber, fomer of the Plymouth Lifeboat>

< Millbay Pier

< The roof of the former Lifeboat Station

< The Longroom and the sile

Looking towards Devonport (tower blocks) with the tower of St Paul's Stonehouse>

The main Barracks in Durnford Street >

Looking down from the heights on the main Barracks >

< Trinity Pier

< Sea Gate House

< The only way down...

Walking back to the Longroom Gate>

Past the Longroom again >

A vote of thanks from Nigel to Gordon >

< The passage in front of the East Block

< Back across the Parade Ground

< One last shot of the main archway

The wind is still from the south-west (hence the grey skies) >

And the tour ended at 12.51 p.m. >