Somme Barracks, Sheffield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Somme Barracks |
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Somme Barracks
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 Somme Barracks
Location within South Yorkshire
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| Coordinates | 53°22′49″N 01°29′01″W / 53.38028°N 1.48361°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1907 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1907-Present |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Sheffield Officer Training Corps (1911–2011) Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment (Since 2011) |
Somme Barracks in Sheffield, England, is a special building used by the military. It is located on Glossop Road. The building belongs to the Ministry of Defence, which is the part of the government that manages the country's armed forces.
Somme Barracks is home to the University of Sheffield Officers' Training Corps. This group helps university students learn about military life and leadership. Since 2011, this corps has been part of the Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment. The barracks building is also very old and important, so it is a Grade II listed building. This means it is protected because of its history and special design.
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A Look at Somme Barracks' Past
The building we see today at Somme Barracks opened in 1907. But soldiers were using this spot even earlier, starting in 1882. Back then, a group called the 1st West York Royal Engineer Volunteers moved into a large house here. They used the house for their officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs). NCOs are experienced soldiers who lead others.
Building a New Headquarters
A special training hall, called a drill hall, was built next to the house. This is where soldiers would practice their drills and exercises. Soon, the space became too small. So, they decided to build a bigger and better headquarters on the same land. In 1906, they started asking for money to help pay for the new building.
The new barracks were designed by Alfred Ernest Turnell. He was an architect and surveyor for the corps. The land cost £3,000, and the building itself cost £6,500. While the new barracks were being built, the soldiers used a temporary office nearby.
The new building had many important rooms. On the ground floor, there were offices for the commanders, a large room for weapons (armoury), a workshop, a medical room, and a canteen. Upstairs, there were living and dining areas for officers and NCOs, plus a billiards room for games. Storage areas were in the roof and basement.
Official Opening and New Ownership
Somme Barracks officially opened on December 7, 1907. A high-ranking officer named Laurence Oliphant, who was in charge of the Northern Command, opened it.
Soon after, a new law called the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 changed things. All volunteer military groups became part of the new Territorial Army. Their drill halls, like Somme Barracks, were taken over by the War Office. The War Office paid only a small amount for the building in 1908. In 1910, a covered riding school was also built there, paid for by the soldiers themselves.
How Somme Barracks Got Its Name
During the First World War, the engineers from this barracks fought in a very important battle. This was the Battle of the Somme in 1916. To remember their bravery and the battle, the headquarters on Glossop Road became known as Somme Barracks.
Over the years, the drill hall at the barracks has been used for many different events. It has hosted exhibitions and even regular professional wrestling matches! Until the early 1990s, Somme Barracks was home to two different military units. But in 1994, one of the units moved to a new location. This left the University Officers' Training Corps as the only group based at Somme Barracks.
The Building's Design
The architect, Alfred Turnell, designed Somme Barracks in the Renaissance style. This means it looks like buildings from a famous period in European history. The main parts of the building are made from red brick with special stone decorations.
The building has an L-shape, with two-story sections along Glossop Road and Gell Street. The main entrance is at the corner of these two streets. It has a large gatehouse with a big window above it. This window has a special design with the Royal Cypher and the words "1st WYRE (VOLS)" carved into it. Many of the windows have stone bars called mullions.
On the Glossop Road side, there is a special plaque. This plaque is a War Memorial that remembers the soldiers from the corps who died in World War One. Inside the barracks, there is a room called the "Allen VC Room." This room honors William Barnsley Allen, a soldier from Sheffield who won the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the British military.
Who Uses Somme Barracks Today?
Today, Somme Barracks is still an active military site. It is mainly used by university students who are training to become officers.
- Sheffield University Officer's Training Corps (from 1911 to 2011)
- Yorkshire Officers Training Regiment (since 2011 - present)
Images for kids
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Somme Barracks
