Victoria_Barracks,_Windsor

Victoria Barracks, Windsor

Victoria Barracks, Windsor

British Army barracks

Victoria Barracks is a British Army barracks located 0.25 miles (0.40 km) south of Windsor Castle.

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History

The original barracks were built in 1853[1] and were enlarged in 1911.[2] The old barracks were completely demolished in 1988 and new barracks were built between 1989[3] and 1993.[4]

The barracks remain the place from where troops set off to change the guard at Windsor Castle.[5] The Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 11am.[6]

Intruder

In April 2022, an intruder who pretended to be a priest managed to spend the night at the barracks despite showing no identification or credentials, reportedly eating and drinking with senior officers, having claimed to have been a friend of the battalion's padre.[7] Thames Valley Police officers attended and removed the intruder, who called himself Father Cruz, from the barracks. No further action was taken. However, an Army spokesman said: "The Army takes this breach of security extremely seriously and it will be thoroughly investigated as a matter of priority."[8]

Units

The sole garrisoned unit, the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, is a light infantry battalion operating as part of the 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade.[9]

References

  1. [1]
    "A brief history of Windsor". Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  2. [2]
    "The royal borough of Windsor: Introduction, A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 3". 1923. pp. 1–5. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  3. [3]
    "Victoria Barracks". Hansard. 18 October 1889. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. [4]
    Naylor, p. 199
  5. [5]
    "Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle". Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  6. [6]
    "Guard at Windsor Castle - Ceremonial Events - The Household Division - Official site". www.householddivision.org.uk. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  7. [7]
    McSherry, Gemma (2 May 2022). "Fake priest 'spends night at army barracks near Windsor Castle'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Army investigates intruder reports at Windsor base". BBC News. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Future Soldier Guide - adr010310-futuresoldierguide_30nov.pdf" (PDF). 1 October 2023.

Sources


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