Listed Building record MDO19250 - Marabout Barracks, Poundbury Road, Dorchester

Barracks, married quarters, riding school and hospital, built 1794-95.

Marabout Barracks (SY 686908) on the north side of Poundbury Road were built in 1794-95 for the Dorset Volunteer Rangers (later the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry). On the south side of the barracks is a two-storeyed, brick built block of E-shaped plan which formerly housed the officers' quarters and mess, but is now used as married quarters. Two detached wings also along the south side were originally used for mens' quarters, stables and stores, but only the easternmost wing now remains. This building comprises a brick-built, two-storeyed block of rectangular plan now used as administrative offices, which has at its east end a single-storeyed drill hall, largely reconstructed after a fire of circa 1919. On the south boundary of the barracks (adjacent to Poundbury Road) were the former guardroom, stores, cookhouses and straw barns, but only the latter two now survive, although remodelled and put to other uses. The west side of the barracks contain the single-storeyed, rubble and brick built riding school, probably of 1799, which stands on sloping ground with an ammunition store under part of it; the north end of the building has been rebuilt. The hospital is a plain two-storeyed brick building, the north part of which may also date from 1799. At the south-west corner of the barracks is the old canteen which could be 1799 or early 19th century. <3-4>

Record last edited

Jan 2 2024 1:46PM