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St George's Barracks, London

Coordinates: 51°30′34″N 0°07′42″W / 51.50939°N 0.12839°W / 51.50939; -0.12839
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St George's Barracks
London
Recruiting Sergeants from St George's Barracks
St George's Barracks is located in Greater London
St George's Barracks
St George's Barracks
Location within London
Coordinates51°30′34″N 0°07′42″W / 51.50939°N 0.12839°W / 51.50939; -0.12839
TypeBarracks
Site information
OwnerWar Office
Operator British Army
Site history
Built1826
Built forWar Office
In use1826–1911

St George's Barracks was a military installation in Orange Street, behind the National Gallery, in London.

History

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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

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  1. ^ "St George's Barracks, London". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 20 April 1896. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  2. ^ Osborne, Mike (2012). Defending London: A Military History from Conquest to Cold War. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-79316.
  3. ^ "Street Life in London". Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. p. 9. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  4. ^ Thornbury, Walter (1878). "'Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery', in Old and New London: Volume 3". London. pp. 141–149. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  5. ^ Conlin, p. 401
  6. ^ "St George's Barracks, London". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 16 December 1919. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Timeline: 1903". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 25 September 2016.

Sources

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