Plymouth, Seaton Barracks, (formerly Crownhill Hutments)

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

SEATON BARRACKS, CROWNHILL

The forerunner of Seaton Barracks was the Crownhill Hutments. These were situated on the eastern side of the Tavistock Road at Crownhill, about a quarter of a mile to the north of the then Crownhill Barracks. They were for the infantry. It consisted of fifty huts, each 75 feet by 21 feet, of which thirty-two were used for non-commissioned officers and men.

A poor quality but important photograph of the Crownhill Hutments

The remainder were for the sergeants' mess, cook-houses, canteen, recreation room, servants' quarters and regimental stores, etc. The officers' quarters and mess were built on the south side of Coleridge Lane, completely separate from the rest.

Construction was carried out by the Portable Building Company, of Manchester, and each hut was built of wood, with felt lining inside and outside, the exterior being covered with corrugated iron. The huts were five feet off the ground as a precaution against dampness.

The thirty-two huts to be occupied by the men had been erected by mid September 1900 and the whole Barracks was expected to be ready for occupation by Thursday November 15th.

It was rebuilt between the First and Second World Wars.

It was later named in honour of Sir John Colborne (1778-1863), who in 1839 moved into Lyneham House, Plympton, and chose the name Lord Seaton because he intended to buy a house near Seaton in east Devon. His statue was moved here from Mount Wise circa 1939.

The Barracks was rebuilt again circa 1964 but has now passed into history and the site been redeveloped as a science park.

A further set of Crownhill Hutments are shown on maps as being on the northern side of the approach lane to Derriford Farm, on the opposite side of the Tavistock Road from the present-day B & Q store. It is not yet known whether these hutments were connected with Seaton Barracks but they appear to be totally different.