Redford Barracks
Colinton, Edinburgh, Scotland
The former Cavalry Barracks at Redford
Redford Barracks is located in the City of Edinburgh council area
Redford Barracks
Redford Barracks
Coordinates55°54′37″N 3°14′45″W / 55.91028°N 3.24583°W / 55.91028; -3.24583
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator British Army
Site history
Built1909–1915
Built forWar Office
ArchitectHarry Bell Measures
In use1915 – present
Garrison information
OccupantsBalaclava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)

Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks is a military installation located on Colinton Road, near the Edinburgh City Bypass, east of the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. The barracks are set to close in 2029.

History

Redford Barracks was built between 1909 and 1915 by the War Office and designed by Harry Bell Measures. When completed, the barracks was the largest military installation built in Scotland since Fort George in the Highlands. The British Army garrison in Edinburgh Castle formally moved out to the barracks in 1923. Today, the Infantry Barracks are unoccupied, and the Cavalry Barracks houses Balaclava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).

The barracks comprises two category B listed main buildings and parade squares facing Colinton Road.[1][2]

Infantry Barracks

The Infantry Barracks at Redford

The Infantry Barracks (55°54′37″N 3°14′45″W / 55.9103°N 3.2457°W / 55.9103; -3.2457 (Infantry Barracks, Redford Barracks, Edinburgh)), was originally built to house an entire infantry regiment and could accommodate 1,000 men. It could provide everything the resident line infantry battalion required to function. The families lived in service quarters close to the barracks and the children attended local schools. The main barrack block itself housed the resident battalion headquarters, one Rifle Company, a Fire Support Company and Headquarters Company. The two other Rifle Companies were accommodated in a separate, newer block. 3rd Battalion The Rifles, the last battalion to occupy the barracks, moved out in 2014.[3]

Cavalry Barracks

The three-storey Cavalry Barracks (55°54′46″N 3°14′31″W / 55.9127°N 3.2419°W / 55.9127; -3.2419 (Cavalry Barracks, Redford Barracks, Edinburgh)), with its tall domed clock-tower, was originally built to house a cavalry regiment, most notably the Royal Scots Greys, with a large annexe of stables and associated outbuildings. With the permanent stationing of armoured units such as the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine, the Cavalry Barracks became a home to D Squadron, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards stationed there from 1971 until disbanded in 1976.[4]

The cavalry barracks have been the home for Balaclava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) since 2014.[5][6] The Regimental Headquarters of the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry has also been located at the cavalry barracks since 2014.[7]

Based units

The following notable units are based at Redford Barracks.[8][9][10]

British Army[11]

Community Cadet Forces

Future

As part of the Future Force 2020 budgetary announcement in July 2011, RAF Kirknewton was to have been developed into a major Army base to host a Multi-Role Brigade;[13] Redford and Dreghorn Barracks would become surplus to requirements and were earmarked for disposal under this plan.[14] However, in December 2011, it was reported that the planned move to Kirknewton was in doubt, and that Redford Barracks would be retained.[15] By 2013, it was confirmed that the MRB plan had been dropped, and that Redford Barracks would be closed.[16] In 2019, it was announced that the closure of the barracks had been deferred to 2025.[17] This was once more extended to 2029.[18]

In 2021, the City of Edinburgh Council revealed plans to create 800 new homes on the site, as part of their City Plan 2030.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Redford Infantry Barracks Block... (Category A Listed Building) (LB49560)". Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Redford Cavalry Barracks block... (Category A Listed Building) (LB28009)". Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. ↑ "The Rifles". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Royal Scots Dragoon Guards". British army units 1945 on. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Armed Forces: location". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "The Royal Regiment of Scotland". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Local Army Directory". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  8. ↑ Lancaster, Mark (29 November 2018). "Army:Written question - 194616". UK Parliament. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  9. ↑ "5 Military Intelligence". British Army. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "Royal Regiment of Scotland". British Army. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "Redford Barracks". Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  12. ↑ "870 (Dreghorn)". Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  13. ↑ "Defence Basing Review" (PDF). Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  14. ↑ "Defence Basing Review: Standard Note SN06038" (PDF). House of Commons Library. 14 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Barracks wins reprieve". Edinburgh Evening News. 4 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "Scottish barracks to close in £240m MoD cutbacks". The Herald. 5 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "Ministry of Defence urged to stop planned Scottish base closures". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "'Transformation' of Army in Scotland planned". BBC News. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  19. ↑ Clark, John Paul (27 September 2021). "Edinburgh Redford Barracks will be transformed into massive housing development". EdinburghLive. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
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