Building 90

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey prefabricated wooden church with corrugated metal roof and stained weatherboarding. T-shaped plan form aligning east west and located in the centre of the 1904 eastern extension of Ebrington Barracks.

The head of the ‘T’ is located at the western entrance end, which is a gable extending into a lean-to at each side. The west elevation has four windows all PVC, which are symmetrical about the centre point. The two central windows are rectangular and about 1.2m high. Those to the lean-to are square and 900mm high. Cills align. At the centre point a rectangular pole sits out from the building, which has a hardwood Celtic cross attached. The roof overhangs by 100mm and a thin plain barge below is painted black. Also on the elevation is an electric box and adjacent lamp.

The north elevation has a sheeted timber door near the west corner of the lean-to and a square window. The main length of the nave has four square 120mm wide 4 pane windows rising to eaves’ level and a pointed window at the chancel end.

The east gable has a central flush door and a similar cross to the front as described above.

The south elevation replicates the north with the exception that the main entrance to the church is contained in the lean-to. This is a double-panelled door near the east end. To the west end, a timber panel with an attached cross is adjacent to a square 4-pane window.

The building is flanked by two similar wooden buildings of similar age and design. These are used for storage and classes.

To the south west of the church a brass bell and hand pull is protected by a small roof and platform and is mouthed on a pole.

Historical information

A prefabricated barrack church which may have been located on different parts of the site before arriving at its present location. Prefabricated buildings are indicated on the parade ground in the 1874 Ordnance map and photographs from the period show that they were of similar form. Prefabricated buildings such as this are of a standard design used by the Army were ever it was located. Their transient nature means that though simple they are now rare. A building on this location flanked by two similar buildings first appears on the 1933 Ordnance Map. The lean-to extensions are indicated on the 1977 map. Much of the historic interest of this building lay in its internal fittings which were removed when the building was deconsecrated in 2003

References- Primary sources

Ordnance Survey Maps, 1904, 1933, 1955

Secondary sources

History of Ebrington Barracks (Anonymous, circa 1970’s) EHS files
Site officer 2003.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Single storey prefabricated wooden church with corrugated metal roof and stained weatherboarding. T-shaped plan form aligning east west and located in the centre of the 1904 eastern extension of Ebrington Barracks.

One of a dwindling number of prefabricated churches produced by the Army and shipped across the world. Simple external detail and higher quality detail inside at the time of survey. Most fittings removed as Army vacated base. Though of historic interest and lesser architectural interest as part of a dwinding type, the building in its current condition is not considered to be of special architectural or historic interest.