St George's Barracks, London
| St George's Barracks | |
|---|---|
| London | |
 Recruiting Sergeants from St George's Barracks | |
  St George's Barracks Location within London | |
| Coordinates | 51°30′34″N 0°07′42″W / 51.50939°N 0.12839°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | War Office |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1826 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1826–1911 |
St George's Barracks was a military installation in Orange Street, behind the National Gallery, in London.
History
The barracks, which were designed by John Nash and built as the main recruiting depot for the London area,[1] were completed in 1826.[2] Recruiting sergeants for the regiments based at the barracks tended to operate within a tight area defined by St. George's Barracks, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey.[3] The barracks, which were also used as facilities to accommodate regiments of foot guards,[4] were retained into the 20th century because of the need for troops to be at hand to quell disturbances in Trafalgar Square.[5] They were ultimately demolished in 1911[6] and the site is now occupied by the National Portrait Gallery.[7]
References
- ^ "St George's Barracks, London". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 20 April 1896. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- ^ Osborne, Mike (2012). Defending London: A Military History from Conquest to Cold War. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-79316.
- ^ "Street Life in London". Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. p. 9. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- ^ Thornbury, Walter (1878). "'Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery', in Old and New London: Volume 3". London. pp. 141–149. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Conlin, p. 401
- ^ "St George's Barracks, London". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 16 December 1919. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- ^ "Timeline: 1903". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
Sources
- Conlin, Jonathan (2006). The Nation's Mantelpiece: A History of the National Gallery. London: Pallas Athene. ISBN 978-1843680208.