Former Sandes Soldiers' Home

Catterick Garrison (known as Catterick Camp until 1973) was opened during the First World War as a training facility, but in 1923 it was decided to retain the site as a permanent army base, a decision which prompted General Sir Charles Harington ask for the home to be built.{{NHLE|desc=Former Sandes Soldiers' Home, Cattterick Garrison |num=1488335 |grade=II*|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{cite web |title=Interior view of the Former Sandes Soldiers' Home at Catterick Garrison, showing an open doorway (DP486215) Archive Item - Historic England Collection {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/DP486215 |website=historicengland.org.uk |access-date=11 October 2024}} The building was opened on 23 November 1928 and provided a place where soldiers could go without the pressure of the military environment.{{sfn|Cole|1972|pp=31, 70}} The building was designed by a firm of architects based in Belfast, and, at the insistence of Elise Sandes who ran the Sandes homes, it was constructed using a workforce recruited from largely from Ulster. When the home was opened, it included a canteen, cinema, billiards room, reading room, a library, and accommodation rooms if soldiers wished to take a break from barracks life.{{cite news |last1=Lloyd |first1=Chris |title=The heart of the British army |work=Darlington & Stockton Times |issue=2024–39 |date=27 September 2024 |page=28|issn=2516-5348}} Elise Sandes had provided 31 of these homes for soldiers throughout the British Empire, including in India and Ireland, but homes also were built in Iceland and France during the Second World War.{{sfn|Cole|1972|p=70}} Part of the building had been converted into a swimming pool, but use of the pool was discontinued in the 1970s when the pool at Shute Road had a roof fitted, and also the opening of the public swimming pool at Richmond.{{cite book |last1=Fowler |first1=Peter |title=100 years of Catterick 1914 – 2014 |date=2013 |publisher=York Publishing |location=York |isbn=978-0-9927819-0-3|page=106}}

The main façade of the building, which is {{convert|240|ft}} in length, faces onto one of the public roads running through Catterick Camp.{{sfn|Cole|1972|pp=69–70}} It was listed for sale in January 1976, and ceased to be used for its intended purpose in 1983, being refurbished and reopened as a training establishment in 1986, though the Sandes homes charity continued until final closure in 2023.{{cite book |last1=Fowler |first1=Peter |title=100 years of Catterick 1914 – 2014 |date=2013 |publisher=York Publishing |location=York |isbn=978-0-9927819-0-3|page=101}}{{cite web |title=Sandes: the soldier's friend – Council of Voluntary Welfare Workers |url=https://cvww.org.uk/index.php/2023/08/21/sandes-the-soldiers-friend/ |website=cvww.org.uk |access-date=11 October 2024}} The building was listed at grade II* with Historic England, which places it in the top 8% of listed buildings in England.{{cite news |last1=Sutton |first1=Harriet |title=Architectural accolade for home on garrison |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=4 October 2024 |page=14|issn=0963-1496}} Newly listing a building at II* level is a "rare occurrence" according to Historic England, but they said that "..the former Sandes Home thoroughly deserves this higher level of listing in recognition of both its architectural quality, and its association with Elise Sandes."{{cite news |title=Former Catterick Garrison soldiers' home given listed status |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew1k704y2go |access-date=16 November 2024 |work=BBC News |date=24 September 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Cole |first1=Howard N. |title=The story of Catterick Camp, 1915-1972 |date=1972 |publisher=Headquarters Catterick Garrison |location=Catterick |isbn=0950309206}}

• [https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/DP486214 Interior view]

{{Grade I and II* listed British military structures}}

Category:Catterick Garrison

Category:Grade II* listed buildings in North Yorkshire