Howe Barracks

Permanent barracks were first established in Canterbury when William Baldock initiated construction of "St Gregory’s Barracks", an infantry barracks on Sturry Road, as part of the British response to the threat of the French Revolution, in 1793.{{cite web|url=http://www.machadoink.com/Canterbury%20Barracks.htm|title=Canterbury Barracks|publisher=Historic Canterbury|accessdate=7 December 2015}} Sir Edward Hales completed construction of the cavalry barracks slightly further up Sturry Road in 1795 and artillery barracks were built on land between these sites around the same time. In 1873 a system of recruiting areas based on counties was instituted under the Cardwell Reforms and the barracks became the depot for the two battalions of the 3rd (East Kent) 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 regiment evolved to become the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) with its depot in the barracks in 1881. These 18th century barracks fell into a state of disrepair in the early part of the 20th century, were withdrawn from use in the 1930s and were ultimately demolished in 1967.

New barracks were established on a new site, half a mile to the south-east of the old barracks, during the 1930s: these barracks became the new home of the Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment).{{cite web|url=http://www.qor.com/community/canterbury.html|title=Canterbury Cathedral|accessdate=10 April 2014}} They were named after Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Howe, a former commanding officer of the Buffs,{{cite web|url=http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/colonels_and_co/commanding_officers/east_surrey/077.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305071942/http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/colonels_and_co/commanding_officers/east_surrey/077.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2016|title=Lt Col G R Howe|publisher=Queen's Royal Surreys (Archived)|accessdate=6 February 2020}} and went on to become the regional centre for infantry training as the Home Counties Brigade Depot in 1960.{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1958/mar/07/infantry-brigade-depots-location|title=Infantry Brigade Depots (Location)|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|date=7 March 1958|access-date=10 April 2014}} They also became the depot and Regimental Headquarters for the Queen's Regiment in 1966,{{cite web|url=http://www.1queens.com/Download_1/1_queens_mag.pdf|title=Queen's Regiment Magazine|date=December 1981|accessdate=10 April 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140409/http://www.1queens.com/Download_1/1_queens_mag.pdf|archivedate=13 April 2014}} for the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment in 1992{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/princess-of-wales-royal-regiment.html|title=Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment|accessdate=10 April 2014}} and for the 5th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland (the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-23105932|title=Canterbury's ties with military end with Howe Barracks closure|publisher=BBC|date=28 June 2013|accessdate=10 April 2014}} The Queen visited the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Howe Barracks in Canterbury in June 2013 to mark their relocation to Scotland.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-23105986|title=Queen visits Howe Barracks in Canterbury ahead of closure|publisher=BBC News|date=28 June 2013|accessdate=25 May 2014}} The barracks were also the home of reservists serving with 3rd Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.{{cite web|url=http://www.canterburytimes.co.uk/Uncertainty-remains-regiment-s-role/story-16523026-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150115013025/http://www.canterburytimes.co.uk/Uncertainty-remains-regiment-s-role/story-16523026-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2015|title=Uncertainty remains over regiment's role|date=12 July 2012|publisher=Canterbury Times|accessdate=8 January 2015}} The barracks closed in February 2015.{{cite web|url=http://queensregimentalassociation.org/memorials.html|title=Memorials|publisher=Queen's Regimental Association|accessdate=7 October 2016}}

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Category:Installations of the British Army

Category:Barracks in England