Whitfield Barracks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitfield Barracks |
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威菲路兵房
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Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre.
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| General information | |
| Classification | Grade I historic buildings |
| Location | Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Named for | Henry Wase Whitfield |
| Construction started | 1890s |
| Whitfield Barracks | |||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 威菲路兵房 | ||||||||
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The Whitfield Barracks were military buildings in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. They were named after Henry Wase Whitfield, who was a commander of the British Army in Hong Kong. Today, this area is home to Kowloon Park. You can still find four of the old barrack buildings there, which have been given new uses, along with parts of the old Kowloon West II Battery.
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History of the Barracks
The land where the barracks stood was first set aside for military use in 1864. In the 1890s, the first barrack buildings were constructed for British Indian soldiers. By 1906, there were 25 barrack blocks, and even more were built in the following years. By 1910, a total of 85 barrack buildings had been completed. A mosque was also built nearby for the soldiers to worship.
The barracks belonged to the British Military when Hong Kong was under British rule. In 1967, the land was given back to the Government of Hong Kong. Then, in 1970, the Urban Council decided to turn the area into the Kowloon Park we know today. There were some discussions about how to best use the land, including plans for shops along Nathan Road.
Old Buildings You Can Still See
Four of the original military barrack buildings are still standing and have been given new purposes. These are Blocks 58, S4, S61, and S62.
Blocks S61 and S62: Heritage Discovery Centre
Blocks S61 and S62 were built around 1910. They are two-story buildings that look very similar. They used to be part of a group of six barrack blocks built side-by-side. From 1983 to 1998, these blocks were home to the Hong Kong Museum of History. An extra building was added in the 1980s to connect them and provide more space for the museum. Now, these blocks house the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, which is a great place to learn about Hong Kong's history.
Block S4: Health Education Centre
Block S4 (which used to be called Block G) is located at the southeast part of Kowloon Park, near Haiphong Road. You can get to it from its entrance on Nathan Road. This is also a two-story military barrack building, similar to Blocks S61 and S62. Today, it is home to the Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre, where you can learn about staying healthy.
Block 58: Museum Storage
Block 58 (formerly Block A) is found at the southwest corner of Kowloon Park, also along Haiphong Road. This building is now used as a godown (a type of warehouse) for the Hong Kong Museum of History, storing important items.
Kowloon West II Battery
The Kowloon West II Battery was a military fort located in the northwestern part of what is now Kowloon Park. It was built between 1878 and 1880 and was likely no longer used by 1916. Its job was to protect the entrance to Victoria Harbour. When Whitfield Barracks became Kowloon Park, the battery was turned into a children's adventure playground. You can still see its original shape, and the places where the guns were mounted have been fixed up. Naval guns found at a construction site in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1980 have been placed in these spots.
Protecting These Historic Buildings
The remaining Blocks 58, S4, S61, and S62 of the old barracks were first listed as Grade III historic buildings from 1997 to 2009. Since 2009, they have been recognized as Grade I historic buildings, which means they are very important and protected. The Kowloon West II Battery has also been a Grade I historic building since 1997.
The project that turned Blocks S61 and S62 into the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre even won an award in 2007 from the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards for its innovative design.
See also
- British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
- Victoria Barracks were located at the site of the current Hong Kong Park
- List of army barracks in Hong Kong
