Kensington Barracks

Kensington Barracks was a military installation in Kensington, London.

Kensington Barracks
Kensington
The original Kensington Barracks at Kensington Gate by Thomas H. Shepherd, c.1840
Kensington Barracks
Location within London
Coordinates51.50230°N 0.18634°W / 51.50230; -0.18634
TypeBarracks
Site information
OwnerWar Office
Operator British Army
Site history
BuiltLate 18th century
Built forWar Office
In useLate 18th century-1858 (old barracks)
1858–1972 (new barracks)

History

The original barracks were built in the late 18th century at Kensington Gate to accommodate cavalry regiments. King William IV is known to have ridden past the barracks on a charger as he went to inspect the London Volunteers at Hyde Park on 26 October 1803.[1] They became unsightly and there was pressure in Parliament to remove the barracks in August 1857.[2] The old barracks were demolished the following year and new barracks were built in Kensington Church Street.[3] The new site had cavalry barracks on the west side of the site and infantry barracks on the east side.[4] The new barracks were demolished in 1972 and the site was redeveloped in the late 1980s as Lancer Square.[5]

References
  1. Watkins, John (1831). The Life and Times of “England's Patriot King,” William the Fourth. Fisher, Son and Jackson. p. 359. Kensington Barracks william IV.
  2. "Kensington Barracks". Hansard. 24 August 1857. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  3. "Kensington Barracks". London Picture Archive. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  4. "Lancer Square: archaeology report" (PDF). Squire and Partners. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  5. "Lancer Square: Design and access statement" (PDF). Squire and Partners. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
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