In addition to the guard house,[1] barrack blocks,[2] the sergeant's mess[3] and the gymnasium all survive and are Grade II listed buildings.

[4] The barracks were designed to accommodate an infantry regiment in transit for operations overseas and were built between 1856 and 1859.

[5] The site was first occupied by the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot in August 1859.

[4] During the Second World War the barracks were used by the Royal Navy as a training facility for new recruits, initially under the name of HMS Victory IV and then as HMS St George.

They continued in Ministry of Defence civilian use until 1998 when they were handed back to the Crown Estate for disposal; the site was subsequently acquired for residential use.