St George's Barracks was a military installation in Orange Street, behind the National Gallery, in London.
| St George's Barracks | |
|---|---|
| London | |
 Recruiting Sergeants from St George's Barracks | |
  St George's Barracks Location within London | |
| Coordinates | 51°30′34″N 0°07′42″W / 51.50939°N 0.12839°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | War Office |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1826 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1826–1911 |
History
editThe barracks, which were designed by John Nash and built as the main recruiting depot for the London area,[1] were completed in 1826.[2] Recruiting sergeants for the regiments based at the barracks tended to operate within a tight area defined by St. George's Barracks, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey.[3] The barracks, which were also used as facilities to accommodate regiments of foot guards,[4] were retained into the 20th century because of the need for troops to be at hand to quell disturbances in Trafalgar Square.[5] They were ultimately demolished in 1911[6] and the site is now occupied by the National Portrait Gallery.[7]
References
edit- ^ "St George's Barracks, London". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 20 April 1896. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- ^ Osborne, Mike (2012). Defending London: A Military History from Conquest to Cold War. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-79316.
- ^ "Street Life in London". Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. p. 9. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- ^ Thornbury, Walter (1878). "'Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery', in Old and New London: Volume 3". London. pp. 141–149. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Conlin, p. 401
- ^ "St George's Barracks, London". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 16 December 1919. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- ^ "Timeline: 1903". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
Sources
edit- Conlin, Jonathan (2006). The Nation's Mantelpiece: A History of the National Gallery. London: Pallas Athene. ISBN 978-1843680208.