Le Marchant Barracks | |
---|---|
Devizes | |
Coordinates | 51°21′42″N 01°58′27″W / 51.36167°N 1.97417°W |
Type | Barracks |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | British Army |
Site history | |
Built | 1878 |
Built for | War Office |
In use | 1878-1967 |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's) |
Le Marchant Barracks is a former military installation in Devizes, Wiltshire, England. The site is within the town's built-up area but within Bishops Cannings parish, on London Road about 1 mile (1.6 km) north-east of the centre of the town.
The barracks were built in the Fortress Gothic Revival style and named after Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant in 1878. [1] Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces. [2] The barracks became the depot for the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and the 99th (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot. [3] Following the Childers Reforms, the 62nd and 99th Regiments amalgamated to form the Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's) with its depot in the barracks in 1881. [3]
During the First World War 5,000 soldiers were processed there and over 3,000 reservists were called up there. [1] Between the Wars, the barracks were the local infantry training centre. During the Second World War, from September 1944 part of the site was a prisoner of war camp, which by the end of that year housed 7,500 German and Italian personnel. [4] [5]
The barracks remained the home of the Wiltshire Regiment until 1959 after which time they were used as a secondary location by the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment until about 1967. [6] Part of the site was still used as a Territorial Army Centre for the 1st Battalion, Wessex Regiment after the main barracks closed. [1]
The keep was sold by the Ministry of Defence in the 1980s and was subsequently used as a warehouse. [7] It was sold again in 2012 and converted for residential use in 2013. [8]
The keep and gatehouse are Grade II listed. [9] [6]
Le Marchant Barracks | |
---|---|
Devizes | |
Coordinates | 51°21′42″N 01°58′27″W / 51.36167°N 1.97417°W |
Type | Barracks |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | British Army |
Site history | |
Built | 1878 |
Built for | War Office |
In use | 1878-1967 |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's) |
Le Marchant Barracks is a former military installation in Devizes, Wiltshire, England. The site is within the town's built-up area but within Bishops Cannings parish, on London Road about 1 mile (1.6 km) north-east of the centre of the town.
The barracks were built in the Fortress Gothic Revival style and named after Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant in 1878. [1] Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces. [2] The barracks became the depot for the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and the 99th (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot. [3] Following the Childers Reforms, the 62nd and 99th Regiments amalgamated to form the Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's) with its depot in the barracks in 1881. [3]
During the First World War 5,000 soldiers were processed there and over 3,000 reservists were called up there. [1] Between the Wars, the barracks were the local infantry training centre. During the Second World War, from September 1944 part of the site was a prisoner of war camp, which by the end of that year housed 7,500 German and Italian personnel. [4] [5]
The barracks remained the home of the Wiltshire Regiment until 1959 after which time they were used as a secondary location by the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment until about 1967. [6] Part of the site was still used as a Territorial Army Centre for the 1st Battalion, Wessex Regiment after the main barracks closed. [1]
The keep was sold by the Ministry of Defence in the 1980s and was subsequently used as a warehouse. [7] It was sold again in 2012 and converted for residential use in 2013. [8]
The keep and gatehouse are Grade II listed. [9] [6]