The Barracks, Brecon
| The Barracks, Brecon | |
|---|---|
| Brecon | |
 The Barracks, Brecon | |
  The Barracks, Brecon Location within Powys | |
| Coordinates | 51°56′40″N 03°23′02″W / 51.94444°N 3.38389°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1805-1813 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1813-Present |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 160th (Wales) Brigade |
The Barracks, Watton is a military installation in Brecon in Wales.
History
The original barracks, which were constructed of red brick, were built at the Watton in 1805 and then extended in 1813.[1] It was from here that troops were despatched to the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.[2] A keep, for the storage of arms and ammunition, was added to the barracks in 1879.[1] Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces.[3] The barracks became the depot for the two battalions of the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.[4] Following the Childers Reforms, the regiment evolved to become the South Wales Borderers with its depot in the barracks in 1881.[5]
The South Wales Borderers Museum opened at the barracks in 1935.[6] The barracks were designated as a Regional Seat of Government in the Cold War.[7] The barracks are now the home of 160th (Wales) Brigade.[8] In November 2016 the Ministry of Defence announced that the site would close in 2027.[9]
References
- ^ a b Tones, p. 126
- ^ "Brecon campaign to buy Rorke's Drift Victoria Crosses' museum". BBC. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ "Echoes of the past in these Army cuts". 8 July 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ "Training Depots". Regiments.org. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ "The Keep at Brecon Barracks". Powys History. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- ^ "The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh". Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- ^ "Civil Defence Project". Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- ^ "Summary of Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) implementation measures within Wales" (PDF). Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
Sources
- Tones, Theophilis (1909). History of Brecknockshire. Blissett, Davtes & Co.