The Cavalry Barracks
![Picture](/uploads/8/2/0/5/8205739/published/cavalry-barracks-officers-quarters-image-rchm.jpg?1717251642)
The officers' quarters at the far East side of the site. Demolished in the 1970s and replaced with the headquarters of North Yorkshire Police. Image: RCHM
York has retained its significance as a northern power centre since it was founded as a military city by the Romans in 72AD. Over the centuries, the Roman defences were enlarged, adapted and rebuilt. Two castles protected the city and symbolised the military power of the rulers until the 18th century, when more stable government reduced the need for fortifications, and local militia were used to supress revolts.
The French revolution of 1789 and the subsequent rise of Napoleon led to war with France and fear of invasion. In 1794 a body of infantry was raised in York, with the Corporation donating £500. A barrack-building building programme across the country was launched by prime minister William Pitt in 1792, and in York, land to the east of Fulford Road was purchased in 1793 for construction of a Cavalry Barracks.
The Morning Post of the 10th September 1793, announced "York Barracks are to be built upon Fulford Fields near that city; the land was contracted for last week, and the foundation is already begun".
The Cavalry Barracks (not to be confused with the still existing Infantry Barracks) are now largely gone, with the only visible remainder being the entrance (opposite Sainsburys and now bricked up) and the overall ground layout of the site, which is now the headquarters of North Yorkshire police.
Fulford cavalry barracks was one of 101 barracks built in England between 1793 and 1804 by the Barracks Master General and designed by James Johnson and John Sanders, the official barracks architects. The buildings were arranged around a large rectangular parade ground in three groups, two on the north side, one on the south, with the officer’s quarters on the west side, leaving the east side open facing Fulford Road. The barracks buildings were two storeyed, with stables on the ground floor and the men's barracks above.
A thesis published by Gordon Heelis in 1935 [read a copy HERE] described the history of the barracks buildings and the very basic living conditions provided for the men. “Two troop and stable blocks faced inwards onto the tethering green. In each block on the ground floor were two kitchens, two cleaning rooms, officers horse stables, and troop horse stables. Access by stairway to the first floor was from the cleaning room where seven troop rooms and five sergeants’ rooms were approached from each side of a central corridor. The first floor corridor had two stairways to the roof space which was designed as a hay store.”
[click or hover your mouse over the image to read the captions]
The French revolution of 1789 and the subsequent rise of Napoleon led to war with France and fear of invasion. In 1794 a body of infantry was raised in York, with the Corporation donating £500. A barrack-building building programme across the country was launched by prime minister William Pitt in 1792, and in York, land to the east of Fulford Road was purchased in 1793 for construction of a Cavalry Barracks.
The Morning Post of the 10th September 1793, announced "York Barracks are to be built upon Fulford Fields near that city; the land was contracted for last week, and the foundation is already begun".
The Cavalry Barracks (not to be confused with the still existing Infantry Barracks) are now largely gone, with the only visible remainder being the entrance (opposite Sainsburys and now bricked up) and the overall ground layout of the site, which is now the headquarters of North Yorkshire police.
Fulford cavalry barracks was one of 101 barracks built in England between 1793 and 1804 by the Barracks Master General and designed by James Johnson and John Sanders, the official barracks architects. The buildings were arranged around a large rectangular parade ground in three groups, two on the north side, one on the south, with the officer’s quarters on the west side, leaving the east side open facing Fulford Road. The barracks buildings were two storeyed, with stables on the ground floor and the men's barracks above.
A thesis published by Gordon Heelis in 1935 [read a copy HERE] described the history of the barracks buildings and the very basic living conditions provided for the men. “Two troop and stable blocks faced inwards onto the tethering green. In each block on the ground floor were two kitchens, two cleaning rooms, officers horse stables, and troop horse stables. Access by stairway to the first floor was from the cleaning room where seven troop rooms and five sergeants’ rooms were approached from each side of a central corridor. The first floor corridor had two stairways to the roof space which was designed as a hay store.”
[click or hover your mouse over the image to read the captions]
Three troops of the Ancient British Fencibles marched in on 3rd October 1795, and in 1795, the Morning Post and Fashionable World reported that "the 3rd or Prince of Wales's Regiment of Dragoon Guards, are arrived at the barracks, near York, from the North, where they have been encamped".
In early 1797 the Dumfrieshire Cavalry were stationed at the Barracks, and in October 1797 the Fifeshire Fencible Cavalry arrived in York Barracks replacing the Ayrshire Cavalry, who left for the coast of Norfolk. In August 1799 the Sussex Fencible Cavalry arrived - clearly this was a busy place!
The barracks are described in 1814 in ‘The Description of York containing some account of its Antiquities, Public Buildings and particularly the Cathedral’ - “These handsome buildings stand in an area of an oblong square, occupying 12 acres of ground, from wall to wall. They are constructed on a plan for containing 3 field officers, 5 captains, 9 subalterns and staff, 4 quartermasters, 240 non-commissioned officers and privates, and 266 horses. The centre building for the officer's apartments is a plain neat structure, with the royal arms displayed in large size over the entrance, finely executed at Coade's artificial stone manufactory in London. This artificial stone is a curious composition, having the peculiar property of resisting damp and frost, and consequently of retaining that sharpness in which it excels every kind of stone sculpture, and even equals marble. [the Coad Stone sculpture is now in front of the Infantry Barracks administration building] In the buildings on each side of the centre are apartments for the non-commissioned officers and privates, with stabling for horses underneath, and a riding school, hospital, suttling-house adjoining.” [a type of mess room].
In early 1797 the Dumfrieshire Cavalry were stationed at the Barracks, and in October 1797 the Fifeshire Fencible Cavalry arrived in York Barracks replacing the Ayrshire Cavalry, who left for the coast of Norfolk. In August 1799 the Sussex Fencible Cavalry arrived - clearly this was a busy place!
The barracks are described in 1814 in ‘The Description of York containing some account of its Antiquities, Public Buildings and particularly the Cathedral’ - “These handsome buildings stand in an area of an oblong square, occupying 12 acres of ground, from wall to wall. They are constructed on a plan for containing 3 field officers, 5 captains, 9 subalterns and staff, 4 quartermasters, 240 non-commissioned officers and privates, and 266 horses. The centre building for the officer's apartments is a plain neat structure, with the royal arms displayed in large size over the entrance, finely executed at Coade's artificial stone manufactory in London. This artificial stone is a curious composition, having the peculiar property of resisting damp and frost, and consequently of retaining that sharpness in which it excels every kind of stone sculpture, and even equals marble. [the Coad Stone sculpture is now in front of the Infantry Barracks administration building] In the buildings on each side of the centre are apartments for the non-commissioned officers and privates, with stabling for horses underneath, and a riding school, hospital, suttling-house adjoining.” [a type of mess room].
![Picture](/uploads/8/2/0/5/8205739/editor/lighthorseman-pub-sign-painting.jpg?1717283259)
Considerable additions were made to the barrack buildings in 1861-5 and the area of the site was increased to about 20 acres by the inclusion and development of the barrack nursery.
St George’s church was built in 1867, and a prison in 1884. This fell into disuse around 1900 when the War Office began housing military prisoners in the County Prison next to Clifford’s Tower.
In 1854 a new military hospital was built on the opposite side of Fulford Road to replace the first which had stood in the corner of the barrack site and had housed only 24 patients in 1853. It was enlarged in 1878, and in 1893 it accommodated over 100 patients and 20 men of the Army Hospital Corps. It was further enlarged by 1906 to accommodate 120 patients.
The result of these changes was a greatly increased establishment. The regulation number of men in 1861 was 308 in 1861, but by 1884 there was accommodation for 30 officers, 510 other ranks, and 46 married soldiers.
With the exception of two short periods in 1859 and 1886, the barracks were continuously occupied from 1859 to 1893. During that time 8 Hussar, 7 Dragoon, and 4 Lancer regiments had been garrisoned there.
The barracks led to developments along Fulford Road, with the Barracks Inn (renamed Fulford Arms during the Northern Ireland ‘troubles’) built next door, and the Lighthorseman in Fishergate. This was rebuilt in grand style on the 1870s on the corner of New Walk Terrace, where some of the larger houses provided additional accommodation for officers. In the 1870s and 1880s, Wenlock Terrace was built for officers and many of the nearby terraces housed military families. Local businesses competed for lucrative contracts to supply fodder for horses, and meat and other provisions for the men. The barracks was open to the public on Sundays and military parades became a familiar spectacle in the area.
The barracks continued to be occupied by mounted cavalry units until 1939, with the last occupants being the 15/19th Hussars. In January 1939 a farewell parade to the horses was held and the cavalry regiment was equipped with armoured cars.
From 1939 to 1945 the barracks were used by a succession of war-time units, and since the war they housed units of, for example, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Army Service Corps.
All the cavalry barracks buildings were demolished in the 1970s, with the exception of the gate houses and adjacent buildings, and boundary walls along Fulford Road. A new headquarters for North Yorkshire Police was built and Shepherd Construction also built a large block of offices, now demolished and replaced by student flats.
The Territorial Army still occupy the southern side of the former cavalry barracks site, bordering the right-of-way to Walmgate Stray, which separates it from the Infantry Barracks.
St George’s church was built in 1867, and a prison in 1884. This fell into disuse around 1900 when the War Office began housing military prisoners in the County Prison next to Clifford’s Tower.
In 1854 a new military hospital was built on the opposite side of Fulford Road to replace the first which had stood in the corner of the barrack site and had housed only 24 patients in 1853. It was enlarged in 1878, and in 1893 it accommodated over 100 patients and 20 men of the Army Hospital Corps. It was further enlarged by 1906 to accommodate 120 patients.
The result of these changes was a greatly increased establishment. The regulation number of men in 1861 was 308 in 1861, but by 1884 there was accommodation for 30 officers, 510 other ranks, and 46 married soldiers.
With the exception of two short periods in 1859 and 1886, the barracks were continuously occupied from 1859 to 1893. During that time 8 Hussar, 7 Dragoon, and 4 Lancer regiments had been garrisoned there.
The barracks led to developments along Fulford Road, with the Barracks Inn (renamed Fulford Arms during the Northern Ireland ‘troubles’) built next door, and the Lighthorseman in Fishergate. This was rebuilt in grand style on the 1870s on the corner of New Walk Terrace, where some of the larger houses provided additional accommodation for officers. In the 1870s and 1880s, Wenlock Terrace was built for officers and many of the nearby terraces housed military families. Local businesses competed for lucrative contracts to supply fodder for horses, and meat and other provisions for the men. The barracks was open to the public on Sundays and military parades became a familiar spectacle in the area.
The barracks continued to be occupied by mounted cavalry units until 1939, with the last occupants being the 15/19th Hussars. In January 1939 a farewell parade to the horses was held and the cavalry regiment was equipped with armoured cars.
From 1939 to 1945 the barracks were used by a succession of war-time units, and since the war they housed units of, for example, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Army Service Corps.
All the cavalry barracks buildings were demolished in the 1970s, with the exception of the gate houses and adjacent buildings, and boundary walls along Fulford Road. A new headquarters for North Yorkshire Police was built and Shepherd Construction also built a large block of offices, now demolished and replaced by student flats.
The Territorial Army still occupy the southern side of the former cavalry barracks site, bordering the right-of-way to Walmgate Stray, which separates it from the Infantry Barracks.
The York Press carried this interesting article by Stephen Lewis about the military presence in York.
![Picture](/uploads/8/2/0/5/8205739/plan-of-infantry-barracks-heelis_orig.jpg)
Infantry Barracks
Before the construction of the Infantry Barracks, the 2nd West York Light Infantry was situated in Lowther Street, on the north side of the city, and the men were billeted in the city.
In 1877-80 a large site to the south of the Cavalry Barracks was purchased to build a new Infantry Barracks. This development was part of the reforms to the British Army undertaken by the Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell, following the German Empire's triumph over the French in the Franco-Prussian War. This showed that the Prussian system of professional soldiers equipped with up-to-date weapons, was far superior to the traditional system of gentlemen-officers that Britain used.
Cardwell abolished flogging, except during active service, and the payment of bounty money for recruitment. He also introduced short-term service, to replace the effective ‘life-time’ that had previously existed, with reserves for former soldiers and local volunteers. Most significantly, he abolished the system of paying for officers’ commissions. His ‘localisation scheme’ divided the country into 66 Brigade Districts (later renamed Regimental Districts), based on county boundaries and population density. All line-infantry regiments would now consist of two battalions, sharing a depot and associated recruiting area, with regular and reserve battalions on the same site, as became the case at Fulford.
The new buildings were designed at the War Office by Major HC Seddon and built between 1877 and 1880. Dominating the site is the massive brick Keep, or Armoury, next to the entrance, providing a secure armoury, stores, guard house and lock-up. As well as having a high brick boundary wall, the adjacent gate houses are flanked with walls with gun-slits, designed to used by soldiers protecting the barracks in the event of attack by hostile forces.
By the middle of 1877, the barracks had been constructed to house the 14th Regimental District, with 1350 officers and men and equipment were moved from the Lowther Street depot to the new barracks in December 1880.
By 1884, the infantry barracks accommodated 55 officers, 1,058 other ranks, and 99 married soldiers. The West Yorkshire Regiment 14th Foot (soon after renamed the Prince of Wales Own Regiment) occupied the north side and the 2nd West York Light Infantry occupied the south side, with a shared parade ground, weapons training ground and sports ground in between.
Before the construction of the Infantry Barracks, the 2nd West York Light Infantry was situated in Lowther Street, on the north side of the city, and the men were billeted in the city.
In 1877-80 a large site to the south of the Cavalry Barracks was purchased to build a new Infantry Barracks. This development was part of the reforms to the British Army undertaken by the Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell, following the German Empire's triumph over the French in the Franco-Prussian War. This showed that the Prussian system of professional soldiers equipped with up-to-date weapons, was far superior to the traditional system of gentlemen-officers that Britain used.
Cardwell abolished flogging, except during active service, and the payment of bounty money for recruitment. He also introduced short-term service, to replace the effective ‘life-time’ that had previously existed, with reserves for former soldiers and local volunteers. Most significantly, he abolished the system of paying for officers’ commissions. His ‘localisation scheme’ divided the country into 66 Brigade Districts (later renamed Regimental Districts), based on county boundaries and population density. All line-infantry regiments would now consist of two battalions, sharing a depot and associated recruiting area, with regular and reserve battalions on the same site, as became the case at Fulford.
The new buildings were designed at the War Office by Major HC Seddon and built between 1877 and 1880. Dominating the site is the massive brick Keep, or Armoury, next to the entrance, providing a secure armoury, stores, guard house and lock-up. As well as having a high brick boundary wall, the adjacent gate houses are flanked with walls with gun-slits, designed to used by soldiers protecting the barracks in the event of attack by hostile forces.
By the middle of 1877, the barracks had been constructed to house the 14th Regimental District, with 1350 officers and men and equipment were moved from the Lowther Street depot to the new barracks in December 1880.
By 1884, the infantry barracks accommodated 55 officers, 1,058 other ranks, and 99 married soldiers. The West Yorkshire Regiment 14th Foot (soon after renamed the Prince of Wales Own Regiment) occupied the north side and the 2nd West York Light Infantry occupied the south side, with a shared parade ground, weapons training ground and sports ground in between.
![Picture](/uploads/8/2/0/5/8205739/editor/dscn8936.jpg?1717258548)
Gordon Helis describes the officers’ mess including a billiard room and accommodation for single and married officers, with rooms for servants. The barracks for the infantrymen had large rooms accommodating up to 28 men, with separate rooms for the sergeants. Married quarters stood between the clothes drying yard and the sports ground. A canteen and recreation centre for the men had a billiard room, dinning room and a small bar. Corporals had similar but separate facilities, with a hall with a stage and a small library on the first floor.
The increasing importance of York as a military centre led to relocation of the Headquarters of the Northern Command from Manchester to York in 1878 (now a small business centre known as Tower House). In 1880 the first horse-drawn in York included a line to Fulford linking the barracks to the Command Headquarters and the city centre. In 1882 ‘Bootham House’ was purchased for £5,000 and re-named 'Government House', serving as the residence of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief. It was vacated in 1936 when Claxton Hall, about 8 miles north of York, became the new official residence.
As the military presence expanded, a number of buildings were taken over, among them Fishergate House, previously a large family residence but latterly a girls’ school, which was directly opposite Tower House. This was used by the Ordnance Survey Department and a tunnel is believed to have been constructed during WW2 under Fulford Road to link these two buildings.
The increasing importance of York as a military centre led to relocation of the Headquarters of the Northern Command from Manchester to York in 1878 (now a small business centre known as Tower House). In 1880 the first horse-drawn in York included a line to Fulford linking the barracks to the Command Headquarters and the city centre. In 1882 ‘Bootham House’ was purchased for £5,000 and re-named 'Government House', serving as the residence of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief. It was vacated in 1936 when Claxton Hall, about 8 miles north of York, became the new official residence.
As the military presence expanded, a number of buildings were taken over, among them Fishergate House, previously a large family residence but latterly a girls’ school, which was directly opposite Tower House. This was used by the Ordnance Survey Department and a tunnel is believed to have been constructed during WW2 under Fulford Road to link these two buildings.
![Picture](/uploads/8/2/0/5/8205739/published/military-hospital-when-part-of-the-nhs-c-1976.jpeg?1717284115)
In 1890 a group of workshop buildings were constructed for the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on part of ‘Hospital Fields’ between the military hospital and the river Ouse, and a narrow gauge railway was constructed to link the stores with a wharf the river bank. A short length of tracks can still be seen on New Walk.
[Read more about the Ordnance Depot and railway HERE]
Subsequent additions include a barrack block, built in 1924 near the hospital for the Royal Army Mechanical Corps, and a temporary hutted camp erected during WW2 between the barracks and Walmgate Stray.
An additional 90 married quarters were built between 1877-80, with four further blocks over the next 20 years. A further four blocks of married quarters were built in Hospital Fields in 1924, and 11 blocks of 4 houses in Moorland Fields in 1938. Further semi-detached houses in Broadway Grove were built in 1954.
In 1951 the Infantry barracks were named Imphal Barracks to reflect battle honours won in northern India by the West Yorkshire Regiment. The Japanese siege of Imphal Plain was deemed to have been raised on 22 June 1944 and this date continues to be observed as a Regimental day. Read more about the Kohima Museum HERE
The 1970s saw the closure of the Ordnance Depot and its re-development as an industrial estate using many of the original buildings. The military hospital was initially used by the NHS when it was first established in 1947 until the opening of the new District Hospital. The huge hospital building was demolished and replaced by a large office development.
Most of the last remaining accommodation for hospital staff in Ordnance Lane are being demolished to make way for a city council housing development. A new army brigade headquarters building was constructed on the west side of the barracks site, with the Kohima museum housed nearby.
[Read more about the Ordnance Depot and railway HERE]
Subsequent additions include a barrack block, built in 1924 near the hospital for the Royal Army Mechanical Corps, and a temporary hutted camp erected during WW2 between the barracks and Walmgate Stray.
An additional 90 married quarters were built between 1877-80, with four further blocks over the next 20 years. A further four blocks of married quarters were built in Hospital Fields in 1924, and 11 blocks of 4 houses in Moorland Fields in 1938. Further semi-detached houses in Broadway Grove were built in 1954.
In 1951 the Infantry barracks were named Imphal Barracks to reflect battle honours won in northern India by the West Yorkshire Regiment. The Japanese siege of Imphal Plain was deemed to have been raised on 22 June 1944 and this date continues to be observed as a Regimental day. Read more about the Kohima Museum HERE
The 1970s saw the closure of the Ordnance Depot and its re-development as an industrial estate using many of the original buildings. The military hospital was initially used by the NHS when it was first established in 1947 until the opening of the new District Hospital. The huge hospital building was demolished and replaced by a large office development.
Most of the last remaining accommodation for hospital staff in Ordnance Lane are being demolished to make way for a city council housing development. A new army brigade headquarters building was constructed on the west side of the barracks site, with the Kohima museum housed nearby.
Today, the barracks are home to 2nd Signal Regiment, one of the regular regiments within 11th Signal Brigade, and 15 (North East) Brigade HQ . This brigade HQ trains and administers over 10,500 Regular and Territorial Army soldiers and is the largest regional brigade, covering the North Eastern counties from North Lincolnshire to the Scottish Border, with a population of over 8 million, and provides a command and control focus for all military support to civilian authorities during civil emergencies, such as the flooding in and around York in 2000 and 2015.
Imphal Barracks will close between 2028 and 2031 and the site will be redeveloped for housing, with over 700 homes anticipated in the city’s Local Plan. FFH hope that most of the barracks buildings will be retained and re-purposed, to maintain the character and history of this important part of York’s heritage.
FFH plans to work with the council and other bodies to regenerate the Keep as a resource for the new residents and the existing Fishergate and Fulford community, which is lacking many local facilities enjoyed by other districts. We have ideas for the building to house the Kohima Museum and provide a local history resource centre. Other parts of the building could be used to create an exhibition space for the Art Gallery and Yorkshire Museum, where seldom seen art and artifacts, such as the local collection and heritage items associated with the area could be displayed. The gate houses and guard rooms could house community facilities, including a library, café and nursery.
Imphal Barracks will close between 2028 and 2031 and the site will be redeveloped for housing, with over 700 homes anticipated in the city’s Local Plan. FFH hope that most of the barracks buildings will be retained and re-purposed, to maintain the character and history of this important part of York’s heritage.
FFH plans to work with the council and other bodies to regenerate the Keep as a resource for the new residents and the existing Fishergate and Fulford community, which is lacking many local facilities enjoyed by other districts. We have ideas for the building to house the Kohima Museum and provide a local history resource centre. Other parts of the building could be used to create an exhibition space for the Art Gallery and Yorkshire Museum, where seldom seen art and artifacts, such as the local collection and heritage items associated with the area could be displayed. The gate houses and guard rooms could house community facilities, including a library, café and nursery.
You can read thesis 'The Army and a City' by Gordon Heelis. Derby. 1956 York Explore ref no. Y 725.18 HERE
You can read more about Cardwell Keeps HERE
You can read more about the Cardwell reforms HERE
You can read about our meeting on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima HERE
Thanks to Gavin Thomas for laying the foundations for these articles and this website
You can read more about Cardwell Keeps HERE
You can read more about the Cardwell reforms HERE
You can read about our meeting on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima HERE
Thanks to Gavin Thomas for laying the foundations for these articles and this website