Listed Building: MILL DAM HOUSE (1386911)

Barracks and offices for Royal Engineers, now offices. Dated 1846, restored 1990. Red brick with grey header bricks in Flemish bond. Low pitched Welsh slate hipped roof. Late Georgian style. PLAN: central open courtyard with stair and single-depth rooms to 3 sides. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 7 bays, centre 3 bays project. Symmetrical front with matching sides. At centre is a 2-leaf 6 panelled door with fanlight under gauged brick round arch set in later projecting porch with stone coped facing gable, moulded stone apex with inscribed shield which reads 'R.E. Office'. To left and to right six 12-pane sashes each set under gauged brick flat arch. First floor has 7 similar sashes. The centre 3 bay projection has stone band at first floor, brick band over first floor and facing stone gabled parapet, flanking bays have brick band, stone cornice and rendered block parapet. Left and right returns are similar with central pediments, on left of right return is a later 6 flush panel door with margin glazed overlight. INTERIOR: largely complete interior with a large open central stair hall containing an interesting cast-iron Imperial stair, with galleries to 3 sides on first floor and stairs leading up on 4th side, with cast-iron risers, tread balusters and handrail, and original joinery and plasterwork. HISTORY: the exact purpose of this precisely planned building is not known, and Engineer's barracks are rare. The patterned brickwork is similar to that found on the c1810 stores at the former Ordnance yard at Gunwharf. Of considerable historic interest, and for its unusual plan form and stair. (Lloyd DW: Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs: Portsmouth: 1974-: 82; The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Lloyd DW: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Harmondsworth: 1967-: 429). Selected Sources Books and journals Lloyd, D W , Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs, (1974), 82 Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, (1967), 429