The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-29 00:00:00

The New Chelsea Model Barracks.

The new and extensive range of building, known as the
New Chelsea Model Barracks, which has been erected on
the eastern side of the road leading to Chelsea-bridge (having
previously been handed over by the contractor to the mili-
tary authorities), was on Friday occupied by the Ist Batta •
lion Scots Fusilier Guards, Col- De Bathe commanding,
and tw3 companies of the Ist BattalionColdstream Guards.
This magnificent building, which up to the present moment
has cost about £120,000, has been erected of polychrome
brick and stone, in the Romanesque style, by Mr. Higgs,
the contractor, Lambeth, from designs by Mr. G. Morgan,
the architect, and is fitted up with all tho modern conveni-
ences, and replete with every arrangement calculated to en-
sure an amount of comfort never yet obtained by the British
soldier in the way of barrack accommodation. The barracks
have a frontage facing the grounds of Chelsea Hospital of
1,050 feet, with a depth of about 40 feet, the average height
being about 60 feet, while at each end of the main build-
ing, but detached from it, are wings, that at the north end
containing the officers' apartments, with cellars, &e., the
other at the south end being occupied by the non-commis-
sioned officers. In front of the barracks the ground between
the road and the building is protected by a lofty iron rail-
ing, broken in the centre by a noble gateway, entering
which, on the right, is the guard -house. The facade of the
building is broken by seven pavilions, the central ono being
pierced with a lofty and elegant archway, giving access to
the ground at the back of the main building, and flanked by
two lofty towers about 80ft. high, containing the clock and
wind dial, vane, &c. Over the archway of the central pa-
vilion is a noble lecture room, and in the building on the
left of this are the commanding officer's and court-martial
rooms, while the portion next the central pavilion on the
right is occupied by a splendid library. The barracks vary
in height, containing in some portions three and in others
four stories, the greater part of which consist of barrack-
rooms, with sleeping-quarters for the married sergeants
overlooking them.
The basement of the building has been so arranged that
it may easily be converted into a rifle gallery, with a range
of about 350 yards, though one would imagine that the con-
stant reports during practice would seriously disturb the
comfort of the inmates above. Along the back of the bar-
racks, facing the parade, acovered arcade gives shelter while
passing from one part to another. There are also, some
yards from the back of the barracks, two detached buildings
which will be used as dining-halls. These are each 100 feet
long and 50 feet deep, and are furnished with cooking-
houses and other conveniences. In the southern rear of the
barracks are the baths and prison—while a second contract
has just been entered into for the construction of quarters
for the married soldiers, canteen, with skittle alleys, ball
courts, covered gymnasium, chapel, and laundries—the
whole, with the buildings already completed and oocnpied,
covering a triangular plot of ground of about 13 acres,
bounded by the road leading to Chelsea-bridge and the
Queen's and Commercial road's. When the new buildings
are finished the total cost of the barracks will be about
£lBo,ooo—money well spent, when our readers remember
the inconvenience formerly attending the married and single
life of the privates and non-commissioned officers of the
British army. That state of things has now been altered,
and with the occupation of the new building it is to be hoped
a new era in the life of our soldiers has been inaugurated.