Brock Barracks

{{Short description|Military building in Reading, Berkshire, England}}

{{Infobox military installation

|name = Brock Barracks

|native_name =

|partof =

|location = Reading, England

|image =Brock Barracks - geograph.org.uk - 1048639.jpg

|caption = Brock Barracks Keep

|map_type = United Kingdom Reading

|map_size = 250

|map_alt =

|pushpin_map_caption = Location within Reading

|type = Headquarters building

|coordinates = {{Coord|51|27|29|N|01|00|12|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|code =

|ownership = Ministry of Defence

|operator = {{army|United Kingdom}}

|built = 1881

|used=1881–present

|builder =

|materials =

|height =

|demolished =

|condition =

|open_to_public =

|controlledby =

|garrison = 7th Battalion The Rifles

|current_commander =

|commanders =

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}}

Brock Barracks is a British Army barracks in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Located on Oxford Road in the district of West Reading. The majority of the buildings and structures within Brock Barracks are Grade II listed.{{NHLE|num=1375594|desc=Former Married Quarters, Brock Barracks|access-date=4 February 2018|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1375595|desc=Former Sergeants Quarters, Brock Barracks|access-date=4 February 2018|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1375596|desc=Officers Quarters and Mess, Brock Barracks|access-date=4 February 2018|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1375593|desc=Former Hospital, Brock Barracks|access-date=4 February 2018|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1375597|desc=Tofrek Barrack, Brock Barracks|access-date=4 February 2018|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1375592|desc=Anson Barrack, Brock Barracks|access-date=4 February 2018|mode=cs2}}{{NHLE|num=1156392|desc=Keep and Attached Walls and Gateway, Brock Barracks|access-date=4 February 2018|mode=cs2}}

History

The barracks, which were named after Major-General Sir Isaac Brock,{{cite journal|journal=Notes and Queries|year=1936|volume=170|pages=1011|title=Brock Barracks}} were built in the Fortress Gothic Revival Style and completed in 1881.{{cite book|first=Daphne|last=Phillips|title=The Story of Reading|publisher=Countryside Books|date=1980|isbn=978-0-905392-07-3|page=135}} Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9383385/Echoes-of-the-past-in-these-Army-cuts.html|title=Echoes of the past in these Army cuts|date=8 July 2012| accessdate= 13 November 2014}} The barracks became the depot for the 49th (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot and the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot.{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |title=Training Depots |publisher=Regiments.org |accessdate=16 October 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210172841/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |archivedate=10 February 2006 }} Following the Childers Reforms, the 49th and 66th regiments amalgamated to form the Royal Berkshire Regiment with its depot in the barracks later that year.

During the Second World War the 401st Glider Infantry Regiment of 101st Airborne of the United States Army were based at the barracks in preparation for the Normandy landings.{{cite web|url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAxADMANgAwAHwAfABUAHIAdQBlAHwAfAAwAHwA0|page=17|title=Revealing Reading'sWartime History: Part 3|publisher=Reading Museum|accessdate=8 November 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108182701/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAxADMANgAwAHwAfABUAHIAdQBlAHwAfAAwAHwA0|archivedate=8 November 2014|df=dmy-all}} The barracks ceased to be the home of the Royal Berkshire Regiment when that regiment merged with the Wiltshire Regiment to form the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment at Albany Barracks on the Isle of Wight in 1959.{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/duke-of-edinburgh-s-royal-regiment.html|title=Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|accessdate=8 November 2014}} The Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment retained their administrative headquarters at Brock Barracks until they moved to Cathedral Close in Salisbury in 1982.{{cite web|url=http://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/museum/museum-history|title=Museum history|publisher=The Wardrobe|accessdate=8 November 2014}}

The barracks continued in use as a Territorial Army base with D Company (Berkshire), Wessex Volunteers using the base from 1967: this unit evolved as D Company, the Wessex Regiment in 1972,{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/territorial-army-infantry/royal-berkshire-regiment.html|title=Royal Berkshire Regiment|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|accessdate=8 November 2014}} the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Company, the Royal Rifle Volunteers in 1999 and HQ Company, 7th Battalion The Rifles in 2007.{{cite web|title=Brock Barracks Reading|url=http://www.2ndroyalberkshire.co.uk/pic_brock.htm|publisher=2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment|accessdate=10 May 2011}}

The Keep

On 12 May 1980 the Secretary of State for Defence sold the Keep, the Gatehouse and the original Gateway to Brock Barracks to Reading Borough Council. Since then Brock Keep has provided artists studios and exhibition space, and is currently occupied by OpenHand OpenSpace.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ohos.org.uk|title=OpenHand OpenSpace|accessdate=14 November 2019}}

References

External links

[http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/5980.aspx 7 RIFLES – British Army Website]

Category:Installations of the British Army

Category:Barracks in England

Category:Grade II listed buildings in Reading

Category:Government buildings completed in 1881

Category:Residential buildings completed in 1881

Category:The Rifles

Category:1881 establishments in England