Aerial view of Admiralty Mews (formerly East Barracks), from Walmer Beach, Walmeer, Deal, Kent.
he Leith family opened a new hospital on the Strand in the late 1780s, and this was purchased by the Navy in 1796. A few years later plans were drawn up for its improvement and expansion: it was to have accommodation for 300 patients in wards arranged across all three floors.[2] Wings extended behind the main frontage at either end; the longer wing to the south contained a laundry and wash house.[23] The apsidal room to the rear of the main entrance was the operating theatre, which also served as a chapel. Separate buildings to the west included a cookhouse, the dispensary, 'rooms for insane patients' and a dead house (behind which was laid out a small cemetery). The new hospital was completed in 1804; however in 1812 a substantial part of the main block had to be rebuilt after the original structure was struck by lightning. Later, additional land was purchased and two pairs of large semi-detached houses were built, for the Governor, Physician, Surgeon and Agent of the hospital. In 1864 HM Naval Yard, Deal was closed and the Admiralty sold the land to the Conservative Land Society, which demolished the remaining buildings and built 'first-class lodging-houses' on the site. The Depot site has largely been redeveloped to provide housing, though a large number of historic buildings remain (several of which are Grade II listed). South Barracks, which were converted to residential apartments in the early 21st century, are now known as the "Cavalry Barracks"; the East barracks were converted into private housing in 1997 and are now known as "Admiralty Mews". The modern North Barracks buildings were demolished; very little survives of the Georgian barracks here, except along the north-east boundary of the site: buildings flanking the main gate (including the former guard house), and a row of houses built to accommodate officers and surgeons; this area is now known as "The Churchills".
Size: 5464px × 3070px
Location: Walmer Beach, Walmer, Kent, UK
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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