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ROYAL NAVAL BARRACKS (HMS VIVID / HMS DRAKE)
Mr Matcham's contract was accepted for the building of the barracks at a cost of around £250,000. Unfortunately Mr Matcham was killed while working on the project and was replaced by another local man, Mr Alfred R Debnam. The buildings would accommodate 5,000 men. They were built of limestone, with Portland stone dressings, and comprised two accommodation blocks, a drill shed and a house for the Commodore. The architect was probably Sir John Jackson. It was completed in 1886 and took the name of HMS Vivid after the Commander-in-Chief's iron-built steam yacht. She had been purchased in September 1891 and become the Devonport base ship in January 1892. HMS Vivid was sold on November 20th 1912. However, there was much wrangling because some Naval hierarchy thought that the construction of such fine barracks was a complete waste of time and money. Consequently it was not occupied until Tuesday June 4th 1889 when 500 men from HMS Adelaide moved in. At that time it consisted of just two accommodation blocks, an admin block, the Drill Shed and the Commodore's House.
An aerial view of the Royal Naval
Barracks, HMS Drake, One unusual development that took place occurred in 1894, when a loft for sixty homing pigeons was constructed. The birds were trained by flying them from more and more distant points around Plymouth. The imposing clock tower was completed on Thursday August 20th 1896. It housed a clock constructed by Messrs Gillet and Johnston of Croydon. This had four faces and a large bell, which struck the hours. The clock was driven by weights that ran the height of the structure plus many feet underground. In 1898 the Barracks was extended by the addition of an Officers' Wardroom and accommodation for a further 1,000 men. Further work was carried out in 1905 by the addition of a swimming pool and in 1906 when the gymnasium, squash court and No. 1 Battery were completed. There was a Royal visit on Saturday March 8th 1902, when King Edward VII, along with Queen Alexandra and the young Princess Victoria, called to present 280 China (Boxer Rebellion) and 60 South Africa (Boer War) service medals. Finally, on Monday February 18th 1907 the Bishop of Exeter dedicated St Nicholas's Church, which was followed on August 18th that year by the dedication of an organ. The guardhouse at the main gate was the last building to be erected, also in 1907. Gunnery training was transferred to the Naval Barracks from Wednesday October 30th 1907, with training re-commencing on the following Monday, November 4th. To relieve overcrowding during the Great War, Johnston Terrace Elementary School was taken over by the Royal Navy on April 4th 1917. Devonport Navy Week was held for the first time on August 21st - 25th 1928. In the following October 1928 a theatre was opened in what had previously been the cinema and beer hall. The custom of holding an annual "Drake's Dinner" was started in the wardroom on Monday July 31st 1933 and at the Dinner it was suggested that the Barracks be renamed HMS Drake. The Admiralty gave its approval to this suggestion on Monday January 1st 1934 and the new cap ribbons were issued on Saturday January 20th 1934. During the Second World War the Barracks did not escape unscathed. An air raid on the night of Monday/Tuesday April 21st/22nd 1941, when the whole of Devonport suffered, killed 113 people. Naval personnel were first demobbed from HMS Drake on Monday June 18th 1945. On Wednesday July 5th 1961 the First Lord of the Admiralty announced in the House of Lords that in future most of the training carried out at Naval barracks would be transferred to the training schools and that henceforth the barracks would become the accounting body and a place of accommodation only. As a result, on Wednesday November 1st 1961 the title Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, was officially dropped and replaced by its ships name of "HMS Drake". Apparently, passing bus conductors were officially asked to call out the new name and refrain from shouting 'Barracks'. However, the destination blinds remained unchanged and still showed "R N Barracks" for some time afterwards. Sources (incomplete):
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