Cowley Barracks
{{Short description|Military installation in Oxfordshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Cowley Barracks
|image=Cowley Barracks.jpg
|caption = Cowley Barracks showing the original keep
|type = Barracks
|map_type = Oxfordshire
|pushpin_map_caption = Location within Oxfordshire
|location = Oxford
|coordinates = {{Coord|51.74184|N|1.20243|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|ownership = Ministry of Defence
|operator = {{army|United Kingdom}}
|built = 1876
|used=1876–1959
|architect =
|built_for = War Office
|garrison =
|occupants = Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
}}
Cowley Barracks (originally Bullingdon Barracks) was a military installation in Cowley, Oxfordshire, England.
History
File:StoneGH Cowley StJames.jpg of George and Sarah Stone. George had been Depot Sergeant Major in the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, presumably at Cowley Barracks. An eroded trace of the number "52" is visible in the regimental badge carved at the top of the stone.]]
The barracks were built in a Fortress Gothic Revival style at Bullingdon Green using Charlbury stone{{cite book |editor-last=Lobel |editor-first=Mary D |editor-link=Mary Lobel |year=1957 |chapter=Cowley |title=A History of the County of Oxford |volume=V: Bullingdon Hundred |series=Victoria County History |place=London |publisher=Oxford University Press for the Institute of Historical Research |pages=76–96 |url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=101882 |access-date=8 November 2014}} and completed in spring 1876.{{cite web |url= http://www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/war/cowley_barracks/|title=Cowley Barracks |publisher=Oxfordshire History |access-date=8 May 2018}} Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces.{{cite news |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 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=8 July 2012 |access-date= 13 November 2014}} The barracks became the depot for the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot and the 85th Regiment of Foot (Bucks Volunteers).{{cite web |url= http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |title=Training Depots |publisher=Regiments.org |access-date=16 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060210172841/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |archive-date=10 February 2006 }} Following the Childers Reforms, the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot amalgamated to form the Oxfordshire Light Infantry with its depot at the barracks in 1881.
Following the Haldane Reforms, the Oxfordshire Light Infantry became the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1908. Many recruits enlisted at the barracks during the early stages of the First World War.{{Cite web |url =http://www.lifestoriesandmemories.co.uk/24/2/story/Ben-Reeve.asp |title=Ben Reeve |publisher=Life stories and memories |access-date=8 November 2014}}
The original proposal for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry War Memorial was to site it outside the barracks. No suitable site could be found there, so instead it was built on Rose Hill at the junction with Church Cowley Road.{{NHLE |num=1369419 |desc=Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry War Memorial |grade=II |accessdate=20 August 2016}}
The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Museum was established at the barracks in 1925.{{cite web |url= http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/about_history.asp |title=About the history of the museum |publisher=The Royal Green Jackets Museum |access-date=7 November 2014}} During the Second World War, the barracks were used as a base for the Home Guard.{{cite news |url= http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/11264113.All_quiet_on_the_home_front/ |title=All quiet on the home front |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |publisher=Newsquest |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=8 November 2014}}
The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry left the barracks in 1959. Although the men's quarters were retained, the keep was subsequently demolished. The museum collection moved from Cowley Barracks to the Slade Park Territorial Army base at that time.{{cite news |url= http://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/wgheadlines/features/11274991.New_museum_honours_county___s_Army_history/ |title=New museum honours county’s Army history |newspaper=Witney Gazette |publisher=Newsquest |date=13 June 2014 |access-date=8 November 2014}}
Between 1980 and 1992, the national headquarters of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation was located on the site. Co-located with this organisation was the Headquarters of No 3 Oxford Group Royal Observer Corps. The site now belongs to Oxford Brookes University, which has built student accommodation on the site.{{cite web |url= http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/o/oxford/index.html |title=Oxford: ROC Group HQ No 3 |publisher= Subterranea Britannica |access-date=8 November 2014}}
On 15 August 2019, a plinth was unveiled at the Parade Green student accommodation in James Wolfe Road in memory of the barracks.{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/streets/inscriptions/east/cowley_barracks.html |title=Inscriptions on plinth at Cowley Barracks|access-date=17 August 2019}}