| Regent's Park Barracks | |
|---|---|
Albany Street Barracks | |
| Part ofLondon Garrison | |
| Camden,London in England | |
 Regent's Park Barracks seen from Albany Street | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Army barracks |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Controlled by | London District |
| Condition | Operational |
| Location | |
  Regent's Park Barracks Location within Greater London | |
| Coordinates | 51°31′57″N0°08′41″W / 51.5325°N 0.1447°W /51.5325; -0.1447 |
| Area | 3 hectares (7.4 acres)[1] |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1820 (1820)–1821 |
| Built for | War Office |
| Architect | John Nash |
| In use | 1821 – present |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants |
|
TheRegent's Park Barracks, commonly known as theAlbany Street Barracks, is aBritish Armybarracks located onAlbany Street,London, nearRegent's Park.
The barracks were constructed in 1820–1821 as cavalry barracks for theLife Guards and theRoyal Artillery as part ofJohn Nash's original design for Regent's Park. Nash had originally intended the barracks to be situated in the northern area of the park, well away from the residential area, and separated from the rest of the park byRegent's Canal. However Nash's plan was not accepted in its entirety bythe Crown with one of the changes involving a change in the location of the barracks to its present site.[2]
In 1848, the barracks were described in theTopographical Dictionary of England:[3]
The cavalry barracks in Albany-road are neatly built of brick, and occupy an area of eight acres and a half; the buildings comprise accommodation for 400 men, with stabling for their horses, a riding-school, infirmary, magazine, and an extensive ground for exercise.
Originally designed to house 450 officers and men and 400 horses the barracks were almost entirely rebuilt between 1891 and 1893. The rebuilding followed the original general layout, and carried out under the supervision of Colonel R. Athorpe. The layout comprises a complex of buildings arranged around a parade ground. The only building to survive from the original barracks is the officers' mess which was built between 1820 and 1821 and is situated on the east side of the parade ground. Other buildings at the northern end of the site include the Gothic chapel which was built in 1857 and the hospital which was built in 1877. Three parallel blocks used for soldiers' accommodation and stables, service buildings and the riding school were all built in 1891.[2] From 1896 to 1969, theRoyal Horse Guards were based there, which later became part of theBlues and Royals.[4]
On 24 September 1971 an anarchist group calledthe Angry Brigade bombed the barracks in response toOperation Banner, the British Army's presence inNorthern Ireland duringthe Troubles.[5]
Today the barracks are the home of 20 Logistic Support Squadron,Royal Logistic Corps,21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve) and the regimental headquarters of theQueen's Royal Hussars, as well as the Queen's Royal Hussars Collection Trust charity.[6][7][8]
_-_A_Charger_on_the_Parade_Ground_of_Albany_Barracks%2c_London_-_515671_-_National_Trust.jpg)
Themusic hall singerIda Barr, whose real name was Maud Barlow, was born in the barracks on 17 January 1882, the daughter of a corporal-major in theLife Guards.[9]
InH. G. Wells'The War of the Worlds, there is a mention of the barracks:"the sound of drumming and trumpeting came from the Albany Street Barracks".[10]
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