| Hilsea Barracks | |
|---|---|
| Hilsea, Portsmouth | |
 Former military riding school within Gatcombe Park | |
  Hilsea Barracks Location within Hampshire | |
| Coordinates | 50°49′42″N1°04′01″W / 50.82838°N 1.06682°W Coordinates: 50°49′42″N1°04′01″W / 50.82838°N 1.06682°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1780 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1780-1965 |
Hilsea Barracks was a military installation at Hilsea in Portsmouth.
The site was originally occupied by Gatcombe Manor, a medieval house which was acquired through marriage by Admiral Sir Roger Curtis, Bt in the 18th century. [1] The War Office requisitioned the land from Curtis for military purposes in the 1770s. [1] (Gatcombe House, which was rebuilt in 1780, was subsequently occupied by Sir Roger's son, Sir Lucius. He had vacated it by 1849; [2] it was subsequently used as part of the barracks and survives as a Grade II listed building.) [3]
A plan for barracks on the site was first drawn up by William Dundas in 1756, in connection with the construction of Hilsea Lines (designed to protect Portsmouth and its Dockyard from landward attack). Building commenced in 1780; as designed, the barracks consisted of rows of long wooden huts arranged around three sides of a parade ground. [4] In 1794 the barracks were extended, so as to accommodate several thousand troops. [5] Following the Napoleonic Wars these barracks were gradually dismantled, the last part being taken down (and the materials sold) in February 1822. [6] Only the associated hospital was retained. [7]
In 1854 Hilsea Barracks were rebuilt, on a more permanent basis, for occupation by the Royal Field Artillery; accommodation was provided for 100 men and 100 artillery horses, [8] (more was added subsequently). By 1864 two batteries of the Royal Artillery were stationed there. [9] The men were accommodated in brick huts measuring 60 ft (18 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m), 22 men to a hut. [10] Accommodation for the officers was provided in Gatcombe House. [11] A new pavilion plan hospital was built in 1865. A military chapel known as "St Barbara's Garrison Church" was added in 1888. [12]
The Royal Field Artillery vacated the site in 1921, whereupon it became the main headquarters and training depot for the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, [13] with Gatcombe House serving as the Headquarters Officers' Mess. [14] During the Second World War the site was used by the United States Army. [15] The RAOC moved their regimental depot to Feltham Barracks in 1946 and vacated the site entirely on 31 March 1962. [16]
The buildings, which had undergone various improvements and changes of use over the years, were demolished to make way for the "Gatcombe Park" housing development in 1965. The Victorian riding school, built for the Royal Artillery in the 1890s and some of the walls which enclosed the barracks still survive. [17]
The Board of Ordnance was a British government body. Established in the Tudor period, it had its headquarters in the Tower of London. Its primary responsibilities were 'to act as custodian of the lands, depots and forts required for the defence of the realm and its overseas possessions, and as the supplier of munitions and equipment to both the Army and the Navy'. The Board also maintained and directed the Artillery and Engineer corps, which it founded in the 18th century. By the 19th century, the Board of Ordnance was second in size only to HM Treasury among government departments. The Board lasted until 1855, at which point it was disbanded.
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The Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) was a corps of the British Army. At its renaming as a Royal Corps in 1918 it was both a supply and repair corps. In the supply area it had responsibility for weapons, armoured vehicles and other military equipment, ammunition and clothing and certain minor functions such as laundry, mobile baths and photography. The RAOC was also responsible for a major element of the repair of Army equipment. In 1942 the latter function was transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and the vehicle storage and spares responsibilities of the Royal Army Service Corps were in turn passed over to the RAOC. The RAOC retained repair responsibilities for ammunition, clothing and certain ranges of general stores. In 1964 the McLeod Reorganisation of Army Logistics resulted in the RAOC absorbing petroleum, rations and accommodation stores functions from the Royal Army Service Corps as well as the Army Fire Service, barrack services, sponsorship of NAAFI (EFI) and the management of staff clerks from the same Corps. On 5 April 1993, the RAOC was one of the corps that amalgamated to form The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC).
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Hilsea is a district of the city of Portsmouth in the English county of Hampshire. Hilsea is home to one of Portsmouth's main sports and leisure facilities – the Mountbatten centre. Trafalgar School is also in Hilsea. It is also the home of Portsmouth rugby football club
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