| Fenham Barracks | |
|---|---|
| Newcastle upon Tyne | |
Former entrance to Fenham Barracks
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|
 Fenham Barracks
Location within Tyne and Wear
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| Coordinates | 54°58′47″N 01°37′53″W / 54.97972°N 1.63139°WCoordinates: 54°58′47″N 01°37′53″W / 54.97972°N 1.63139°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1804–1806 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1806-Present |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Command and Support Squadron and Regimental Headquarters Queen's Own Yeomanry 201 (Northern) Field Hospital |
Fenham Barracks is a military installation in Barrack Road, Newcastle upon Tyne.
History[edit]
The site was acquired by the War Office from Newcastle Corporation in 1804 and, following the construction of three barrack blocks, became the home of units of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons under the name of Newcastle Barracks in 1806.[1] The officers mess', designed by James Wyatt, was completed around the same time.[2] Soldiers' duties included putting down the Chartism movement riots in the 1840s.[1] Units of the Royal Horse Artillery arrived in 1846 and units of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers moved in during the 1870s.[1] Following the Childers Reforms the barracks became the depot of both the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and the Durham Light Infantry in 1884.[3]
The Durham Light Infantry museum opened at Fenham Barracks shortly after World War I[4] but moved out to Brancepeth Castle when the regiment transferred there in 1939.[5]
The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers museum opened at Fenham Barracks in 1929 and remained there after the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers were absorbed into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1962.[1] The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers museum finally moved out to Alnwick Castle in 1970.[6]
In 1975 the barracks became the home of 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars; they moved out in 1992 when the regiment was amalgamated to form part of The Light Dragoons.[1]
The barracks remain the home of the following Army Reserve units: Command and Support Squadron and Regimental Headquarters of the Queen's Own Yeomanry[7] and 201 (Northern) Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "The Building Of Newcastle Barracks (later known as Fenham Barracks)". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "Former Officers' Mess, Fenham Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne". British listed buildings. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ "Durham Light Infantry museum" (PDF). Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "Durham Light Infantry Museum". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "Regimental Headquarters or Depot". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "About the museum". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "Queen's Own Yeomanry". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
- ^ "201 Field Hospital". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
Further reading[edit]
- Hewitson, Thomas (1999). A Soldier's Life: The story of Newcastle Barracks. Tyne Bridge Publishing. ISBN 978-1857950991.