Hightown Barracks

Hightown Barracks
Wrexham
Hightown Barracks
Hightown Barracks is located in Wrexham
Hightown Barracks
Hightown Barracks
Location within Wrexham County Borough
Coordinates53°02′16″N 2°58′58″W / 53.03775°N 2.98275°W / 53.03775; -2.98275
TypeBarracks
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator British Army
Site history
Built1877
Built forWar Office
In use1877–Present

Hightown Barracks is a military installation in Wrexham, Wales.

History

The barracks were built in the Fortress Gothic Revival Style and completed in 1877.[1] Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces.[2] The barracks became the depot for the two battalions of the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers.[3] Following the Childers Reforms, the regiment evolved to become the Royal Welch Fusiliers with its depot in the barracks in 1881.[3]

Many recruits were enlisted at the barracks at the start of the First World War[1] and the Denbighshire Hussars also moved their headquarters there just before the start of the war.[4] The barracks were also used by a commando unit during the Second World War.[1] The Royal Welch Fusiliers amalgamated with the Royal Regiment of Wales to form the Royal Welsh in 2006 and troops from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welsh left the barracks for the last time in November 2013.[5] Although the barracks continued to be used by 101 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers,[5] it was confirmed in 2017 that 101 Battalion would be relocating to Bristol.[6]

A company of the Wales Universities Officer Training Corps is also based at the barracks.[7]

In 2019, it was announced that the Anti-Tank Platoon of 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh, would be returning to the barracks after a six-year absence from the city.[8] And in 2021, under Future Soldier, it was revealed that the presence would expand to a company-sized unit.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Buildings and places of Wrexham past and present". Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  2. ^ "Echoes of the past in these Army cuts". 8 July 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Training Depots". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ Mills, T.F. (18 June 2006). "The Denbighshire (Hussars) Yeomanry". Land Forces of the British Empire. Archived from the original on 20 December 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Royal Welsh ends tradition at Hightown Barracks, Wrexham". BBC. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Army unit in Wrexham will relocate to Bristol". BBC. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  7. ^ "University Officer Training (UOTC)". Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  8. ^ "THEY'RE COMING HOME!". Wrexham Council News. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Army's Brecon Beacons base saved in Wales troops move". BBC News. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.