The Royal Artillery barracks at Northfleet during the Napoleonic wars

THE RO YAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS AT NORTHFLEE T DURING THE NAPOLEONIC WARS VICTOR T.C. SMITH, B.A., F.S.A. INTRODUCTION The existence of a short-lived barracks at Northfleet during the Napoleonic Wars survives as a folk memory and in the recorded name Barrack Field which subsequently appeared in various documents and maps referring to or portraying the site. Recent research by the writer for the New Tavern Fort Project has established a more detailed location for the barracks and contributed information about its buildings and life span. It has also indicated the areas for possible future archaeological excavation to fix precisely the position of this little-known military site in relation to modern features. THE BUILDING AND USE OF THE BARRACKS The barracks were built in 1806 in fields just to the south of the Leather Bottle Inn and of the then small village of Northfleet. They were intended as a transit camp for horsed artillery regiments ordered from various locations in England to leave for foreign service. In official records the site is described variously as 'Artillery Barracks' or 'Royal Artillery Barracks' .1 The positioning of the barracks established them a short distance to the west of the angle formed by the junction of the Dover Road, an important communication route, and a new road from Northfleet to Gravesend. Military embarkations usually took place out of the Thames from Gravesend, just 1 ½ miles away, where transport vessels moored. 1 PRO WO 55/2399 and MPH 924. 443 VICTOR T.C. SMITH J. Benson referred to the burial in 17 63 of three soldiers at the nearby Northfleet Parish Church and considered it possible that the area had been used for the encampment of troops on several occasions before the Napoleonic period.2 S.H. Cooke also referred to the 7th Light Dragoons having been stationed at Northfleet in 1797.3 Although the evidence for the earlier stationing of troops at Northfleet is, as yet, inconclusive, it was not unusual for villages and hamlets to be used for the ad hoe billeting of troops during times of need, sometimes with temporary encampments. The barracks were a 110 m. square enclosure whose sides formed the stables. At the centre of the enclosure was a detached accommodation building, a cook-house and a well. The area enclosed also formed a space for the mustering and drilling of troops. The rectangular design was a conventional one. The establishment of these barracks reflected a growing trend from the eighteenth century towards the building of purpose-designed accommodation for troops, whether for temporary or permanent occupation. It also formed part of a tranche of new defence-related building in England during the Napoleonic Wars. The south-east of England was a busy part of the country during the wars, with the presence of concentrations of troops for defence against possible raid or invasion and many movements of soldiers, both as internal redeployments and transfers to and from overseas. At the time of construction, the site on which the barrack was built was known as Harp Field, presumably because of its shape. The field had this name from at least as early as 1727. 4 The area of the field amounted to about 12 acres and was taken into the ownership of the Board of Ordnance. This provided a large enough space for an exercise area and a pasture for sick horses. The field was bounded by a hedge. The main lines of the barrack had been formed by October, 1806.5 However, there appears to have been a misapprehension at the time about the rationale of the barracks in the mind of the Commanding Royal Engineer (C.R.E.) for the district who was responsible for supervising its construction. This prompted Mr R.H. Crew of the Board of Ordnance to advise him on 1st December that 'the Establishment at 2 J. Benson, 'Northfleet through the ages', 10, in the Gravesend Reporter, 5 September, 1957. 3 S.H. Cooke, A History of Northfleet and its parish church, London, 1942, 61. 4 A map by Edward Baker of 1727 copied by Charles Sloane in 1766 (CKS U 1375 Pl) shows this field name. It was kindly drawn to my attention by Mr E.R. Green. 5 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 7 May 1805-1 January, 1807. 444 THE ROYAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS AT NORTHFLEET Northfleet was intended merely as an accommodation for troops previous to their embarkation for service, and cannot be considered as a permanent station for the Horse Artillery from its natural and local disadvantages ...'. 6 There were some disagreements between the C.R.E., his Clerk of Works and the Board of Ordnance about the manner of completing the barracks.7 A large detached building was also proposed by the C.R.E. for the storage of gun carriages, but this is not referred to in later documents and perhaps was not built. 8 Even though the roofs of the stables were then unfinished, by November of 1806, the barracks became occupied by F Troop of the Horse Brigade, under the command of Captain Duncan.9 During the November/December period, sentry boxes were ordered for the barracks and various works to complete the fitting out of the rooms were taken forward.10 The floors of the stables quickly became broken up because of the wear from the hooves of horses. It was calculated that some 60,000 bricks would be required for re-laying the floors.11A fter much consideration, including study of the experience of breweries in accommodating their horses, special hardened bricks were obtained from two local suppliers, Messrs. Edmeades and Colyer in 1808.' 2 For some reason, a request by the C.R.E. to purchase gravel to surface the square of the barracks was not approved by the Board of Ordnance, although large quantities of this material were present on the site later.13 The presence of the Corps of Royal Artillery Drivers at the barracks in 1809 prompted the construction of a purpose-built guard room to replace the impromptu hut previously used which had no fireplace, chimney or guard bed.14 At this date the barracks were still being improved with the installation of 40 special lanterns worked on a system of pulleys to illuminate the stables together with other internal adaptations and fitting out.15 Mr W. Crafter, the Clerk of Works, attended the site from the Ordnance Office at Gravesend every day. 16 6 Ibid. A military document of 1818 (PRO WO 44/290) referred to the barracks as having been a temporary establishment. 1 Ibid., note 5. 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid., and information supplied by Brigadier K.A. Timbers of the Royal Artillery Historical Trust. 10 Ibid., note 5. 11 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 26 August 1807-27 May 1808. 12 Ibid. 13 Ibid., and PRO WO 44/290. 14 R.E. Letter Books (Gravesend) 1809-11. 15 R.E. Letter Books (Gravesend) 26 August 1807-27 May 1808. 16 Ibid. 445 l!l PLAN OF THE BARRACKS AT NORTHFLEET, 1811 􀀂,􀀃 􀀉 Street 􀀒􀀓 􀀏lrd/Wll/4&2VW/4m ,,,,,,,,"'"''""'""u,, .. ,."I,,,􀀞 IC i{....... ----%-;.􀀔 -(" .. : . t:) ) ,. ::.'. ...... ./.,,, l B D 01£] 0 B PASTURE FOR SICK HORSeS ..... 􀀕, 􀀖 i"[ . Ii --.L ____ . 􀀟!)GE 600 FT Fig. 1. Plan of the Barracks at Northfleet, 1811. t.OOFT 􀀗0 THE ROYAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS AT NORTHFLEET The earliest plan17 (Fig. 1) and description18 of the barrack date from 1811: 'A -Artillery barracks Dimensions 61 ft. x 54ft. 1 in. Constructed with timber and weatherboarded. The roof timber and covered with plain tiles. B -Stables Four ranges. Dimensions each 265 ft. 3 in. x 21 ft. 9 in. Constructed with timber and weather boarded, the roof timber covered with pan and plain tiles. C-Hospital Dimensions 21 ft. 9 in. x 21 ft. 9 in. Constructed with timber and weatherboarded. The roof timber and covered with pan and plain tiles. D-Granary Dimensions 21 ft. 9 in. x 21 ft. 9 in. Constructed of timber and weatherboarded. The roof timber and covered with pan and plain tiles. E -Barrack master's store Dimensions 21 ft. 9 in. x 21 ft. 9 in. Constructed with timber and weatherboarded. The roof timber and covered with pan and plain tiles. F -Cookhouse Dimensions 20 ft. 3 in. x 21 ft. 9 in. 17 PRO WO55/2399. 18 R.E. Letter Books (Gravesend) 7 July 1811-18 November 1812. 447 VICTOR T.C. SMITH Constructed with timber and weatherboarded. The roof timber and covered with pan and plain tiles. [Next to this was a well.] G - Guard House Dimensions 21 ft. 9 in. x 21 ft. 9 in. Constructed with timber and weatherboarded. The roof timber and covered with pan and plain tiles.' There must also have been a forge but it is not mentioned in documents. A later document of 12 January 1818 describes the timber of the buildings as being of fir and English oak, with deal weatherboarding.1 9 These timber buildings may have rested on brick foundations which could have left some archaeological traces. Kentish Rag and Yorkshire paving were also present.20 In the year of this description the barracks were unoccupied but were calculated to contain: One field officer Two captains Four subalterns Two hundred and eight non commissioned officers and men Twelve officers' horses Three hundred and eighty troop horsesz1 The maintenance problems of timber and weatherboarded buildings are well-known. The barracks required repainting at frequent intervals and storms persistently caused damage to their roofs. Normal usage of 19 PRO WO 44/290. 20 Ibid. 21 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 26 August 1807-27 May 1808 and 1809-11. 448 THE ROYAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS AT NORTHFLEET the barracks produced a stream of 'wear and tear' maintenance tasks, particularly in relation to doors coming off hinges and fixings. There are also records of repairs to a fire engine which was kept within the barrack square and to an engine used for raising water from the well.22 How the officers and soldiers were accommodated is unclear in its detail. The documents make clear that rooms were provided for the officers on the site, but the accommodation block appears to have been too small for a full complement of officers and men, even if the soldiers were provided with bunks or the building had been on two levels. Surprisingly, soon after purchase of the ground there were local uncertainties about the precise and legal boundaries of the ordnance property and neither the C.R.E. for the district nor others of his military correspondents admitted to having anything more than rough sketches.23 Such uncertainties about ordnance boundaries may be paralleled at other sites at this period. The barracks were not continuously occupied. Usage depended on the number of troop movements for overseas service which the state of the war demanded. Part of the barracks was occupied for some years by the Clerk of the Cheque at Gravesend, who was certainly in residence in 1813.24 When troops were present, their specialist skills and resources of horses and waggons sometimes attracted their assignment to temporary tasks such as helping to move heavy guns needed for the Thames forts which the invalid artillery at Gravesend found beyond them and transporting bricks and materials for military or public work projects. In 1814, this included the transport of surplus bricks at the barracks to the ordnance wharf in front of New Tavern Fort at Gravesend for works there.25 REMOVAL OF THE BARRACKS AND LEASING AND SALE OF THE SITE In September 1815, the barracks were occupied by 1 lieutenant, 19 NCOs and privates and 103 artillery horses.26 Usage of the barracks rapidly diminished after the end of the Napoleonic Wars although the buildings were maintained by the Board of Ordnance for a year or two. The barracks soon became surplus to requirements and the Board 22 Ibid., notes 17 and 18. 23 Ibid. 24 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 1812-14. 25 Ibid. 26 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 1814-15. 449 VICTOR T.C. SMITH leased Barrack Field to Joseph Wood for agricultural use.27 In January 1818, the decision was taken to dispose of the barrack buildings. An offer for them of £1,700 from a Lt. Harris of the Corps of Royal Artillery Drivers, still apparently in residence at Northfleet, was rejected by the Board of Ordnance in favour of sale by auction.28 This was undertaken in three stages between March and April 1818, with the understanding that the purchaser would be responsible for the prompt removal of the materials. This arrangement had worked well in the case of the recent sale of the barracks at Warley.29 The continued presence of large amounts of brick and tile debris on the site which their purchasers delayed in removing and still open privy shafts and other excavations were a considerable problem for Mr Wood. His complaint of September 1818 to the Board of Ordnance pointed out that he was half-way through his three year lease, but because of the debris amounting by his estimate to several hundred cart loads he had not been able to fully utilise the land. 30 The latter was let to Mr John Fiveash in 1827 at £35 per annum.31 Although of no further military importance, the bounds of the ordnance property were perambulated annually, the inspection of 1829 leading to an instruction to a neighbour to make good the illegal removal of earth from part of the hedgeline.32 John Fiveash found the Board of Ordnance unsympathetic when, in 1831, he requested a reduction in his rent because of his poor crop yields.33 In 1830 an official military document had described the field as pasture land.34 Given that the ground had no perceived future use for military purposes, the C.R.E. at Chatham recommended to the Board of Ordnance that the site and field be sold at public auction.35 This was eventually assented to in February 1834.36 The site was offered for sale in May 1834, and the auction took place at the Falcon Inn, Gravesend. Fiveash's lease expired in September of that year.37 This seems to have formed part of a pattern of military land sales, ground at the Gravesend Blockhouse being sold in the same year. A temporary cavalry barrack 21 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 1817-19. 2s PRO WO 44/290. 29 Ibid. 30 Ibid., and RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 1817-19. 31 PRO WOSS/2589. 32 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 1828-30. 33 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 1830-31. 34 Ibid., note 31. 35 RE Letter Books (Gravesend) 1831-35. 36 Ibid. 37 Ibid. 450 THE ROYAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS AT NORTHFLEE T at Romford in Essex was offered for sale in 1827 .38 The official documents prepared in connection with the sale of the barracks at Northfleet contained a map of the site in relation to the then existing roads and to the Leather Bottle Inn.39 From this it has been possible to superimpose the barrack plan on a modem street layout (Fig. 1, inset), giving a centre for the site in Shepherd Street at N .G.R. TQ 6262 7385. Barrack Field was sold off in a number of lots, some of which were designated for building purposes. These lots and their ownership are shown in the Tithe map of 1838.40 S.H. Cooke, writing in 1942, reported that 'for many years in Shepherd Street four wooden cottages remained, which had been officers quarters, but these are now demolished.'41 Were these structures separate from the barracks or ones which had been dismantled in 1818 for local re-use? New housing started to appear on the fringes of Barrack Field in 1838,42 a process which continued over the several succeeding decades until the whole of Barrack Field became covered with buildings and gardens. In the present century various artefacts, allegedly of military origin, have been found during the digging of garden areas. 43 COMMENT This research has contributed a little to our knowledge of the new building projects undertaken in England for military purposes during the Napoleonic period. These included both defence positions and barracks. A number of these were, like the barracks at Northfleet, products of the exigencies of the time to be run down and abandoned after the years of war emergency were over. As the location of the barracks has been established within reasonable limits, it has been notified to the Heritage Conservation section of Kent County Council for inclusion in the Sites and Monuments Record for the county. Outline approval has been received for a small archaeological investigation on the site of the northern side of the barracks to try to establish the line of the enclosure more precisely. Investigations at one or two other points may be necessary to complete this process. 38 Ibid., note 31. 39 PRO MPH 924. 40 Tithe Map of Northfleet for 1838, C.K.S. 17/272. 41 Ibid., note 3. 42 Ibid., note 40. 43 Personal comments of several persons made to the writer in 1988. 451 VICTOR T.C. SMITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The writer would like to thank Mr Robert Hiscock, LL.B., ES.A., and Mr E.R. Green, for reading and commenting on a draft of this paper. Thanks are also due to the staff of the Royal Engineer Corps Library at Chatham for making available the RE Letter Books for inspection. 452