I noticed the gas holder on the skyline when walking on the beach so, on Sunday morning, we walked along to the Barrack Road Gasometer. No longer used but a Grade II listed building rebuilt here from a previous location in 1885. It has an external circular frame supported by columns which allowed the enclosed gas container to rise and fall on a floating water reservoir. We had been told about the Naval Hospital and ventured through the gates to have a look. We were greeted by a resident who gave us lots of details about the building and allowed us to take some photos - it is only open to the public generally on Heritage days. It is a Grade II* listed building completed in 1811. It was commissioned by the Admiralty to care for the sick and wounded of the Royal Navy's North Sea Fleet in its battles with the Napoleonic French Navy. It has also been used by the Army as a barracks and hospital, and has taken in casualties from the Battle of Waterloo and the Indian Mutiny. From 1863, the Hospital treated Royal Navy servicemen suffering from mental illness.In 1958, it became an NHS psychiatric hospital (St Nicholas Hospital) before closure in 1993 and sale for private development as houses and apartments.
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