The Barracks, Kingston upon Thames facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Barracks, Kingston upon Thames |
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| Kingston upon Thames | |
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The Barracks, Kings Road, Kingston upon Thames
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 The Barracks, Kingston upon Thames
Location within Greater London
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| Coordinates | 51°25′09″N 0°17′40″W / 51.41930°N 0.29434°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1874–1875 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1875–1959 |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | East Surrey Regiment |
The Barracks was a special place where soldiers lived and trained in Kingston upon Thames, a town in England. It was like a home base for different army groups.
Contents
A Look Back: The Barracks' Story
Building the Barracks
The Barracks was built on what used to be farmland. Construction happened between 1874 and 1875. This was part of a big plan to organize the British army better. The idea was to have soldiers train closer to home.
The Barracks became a "depot." This means it was a main base for two army groups: the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot and the 70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot.
Changes and New Regiments
Later, in 1881, these two groups joined together. They formed a new, bigger group called the East Surrey Regiment. The Barracks then became the main home for this new regiment.
The World Wars and Beyond
When the First World War started in August 1914, many new soldiers joined the army at these Barracks. It was a busy place for training and preparing for war.
In 1928, a museum was opened at the Barracks. It showed the history of the regiment and its soldiers.
Closing Down the Barracks
The East Surrey Regiment stayed at the Barracks for many years. But in 1959, they joined with another group, the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Together, they became the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment.
After this, the Barracks was mostly taken down in 1962. However, one important part, called the "keep," was saved. A "keep" is like a strong tower or central building. In 2011, there were plans to turn this old keep into apartments for people to live in.
