Building MPM784 - NUMBER 16 STORE (BUILDING NUMBER 1/63) AND BOLLARD AT SOUTH WEST CORNER

Hemp store built in 1771 with 20th century alterations, now used as a store. On the east end gable of the building in blue headers (bricks) is a flag and crown followed by 'III', beneath which are the letters G R (for George Rex), and the date 1771, denoting the store was built during the reign of George III. At the south-west corner there is a bollard formed of an upended cannon barrel, probably early-mid 19th century, reused as a bollard mid-late 19th century, with muzzle blocked. Originally called the West Hemp House, constructed as part of the rebuilding of the ropery after the fire of 1770. It is similar in design to the adjacent Nos 15 and 17 Stores. Though much altered, compared with the roperies at either Chatham or Devonport, this is still part of one of the largest integrated groups of 18th century industrial buildings in the country, and part of a group with the other late-18th century ropery buildings