Listed Building: HMS NELSON: EASTNEY (BUILDING NUMBER 79) (1387140)

Formerly known as: HMS Victory QUEEN STREET. Naval canteen and theatre. 1899-1903; later alterations and additions; refurbished 1991. For and by the Admiralty, Superintendent Engineer Colonel Sir Henry Pilkington RE. Red brick in English bond with ashlar dressings. Refurbished slate roof with tall corniced chimneys. PLAN/EXTERIOR: rectangular block with gabled end ranges (north and south) of 2 storeys and attic, 9 x 2 bays. Between them, centre of block filled by 3-storey section on east side and single-storey theatre section on west side which projects and presents an 8-bay elevation. The north and south elevations are each arranged 1:2:3:2:1 bays, the 2-bay sections breaking forward, with canted sides, below pedimented gables; outer bays blind. 12-pane and 8-pane sash windows with stone sills, segmental brick arches, and tripartite keystones to canted projections. Across central 3 bays, wide round arch with giant voussoirs alternately of brick and stone; set back inside it is entrance which has multi-leaf door, small-pane fanlight and cable-moulded surround; iron-railed balcony across 1st floor. Moulded eaves. West elevation: returns of north and south ranges have gable lunettes. Theatre section has tripartite sashes below keyed segmental arches, 2 now made into doors; pilasters rise from impost level into stepped, corniced, parapet; entrance in re-entrant wall at south end has half-glazed double-door with small-pane glazing. East elevation: canted bays of 2 and 3 storeys. INTERIOR: roof supported on decorative cast-iron columns. HISTORY: part of the first barracks for sailors, built at Devonport, Chatham and Portsmouth to similar plans. Theatres were a progressive element included at both Devonport and Portsmouth naval barracks, reflecting the desire to improve living standards of the seamen. (Lloyd DW: The Buildings of Portsmouth and its environs: Portsmouth: 1974-: 85). Selected Sources Books and journals Lloyd, D W , Buildings of Portsmouth and its Environs, (1974), 85