Somme Barracks, Sheffield
Somme Barracks | |
---|---|
Sheffield | |
![]() Somme Barracks | |
Coordinates | 53°22′49″N 01°29′01″W / 53.38028°N 1.48361°W |
Type | Barracks |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | ![]() |
Site history | |
Built | 1907 |
Built for | War Office |
In use | 1907-Present |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | Sheffield Officer Training Corps (1911–2011)
Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment (Since 2011) |
Somme Barracks, Sheffield is a military establishment on Glossop Road in Sheffield, England. The building is owned by the Ministry of Defence and serves as the base of the University of Sheffield Officers' Training Corps, which has been a part of the Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment since 2011.[1] It is a Grade II listed building.[2]
History
The present building was opened in 1907. A military presence had existed on the site since 1882 when the 1st West York Royal Engineer Volunteers moved from their previous headquarters at John Street in the suburb of Highfield into a large house with adjoining piece of land at the corner of Glossop Road and Gell Street. The house was used to accommodate the officers and NCOs while a drill hall was built on the spare land. The new headquarters were soon found to be too small and a decision was taken to build larger premises on the same site. On 11 July 1906 an appeal was launched by the Corps Commander Lieutenant Colonel Edward Tozer to help finance the new building.[3]
The new building was designed by the Corps
The barracks were opened on 7 December 1907 by Laurence Oliphant Commander-in-Chief of Northern Command. The West York Royal Engineer Volunteers' ownership of the new building was brief, as the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 had been passed by Parliament earlier in the year and came into effect on 1 April 1908. Under the new act all volunteer forces would become part of the new Territorial Army and their drill halls would be taken over by the War Office. The War Office paid only a fraction of the true value of the building when they took it over in 1908. In 1910 a covered Riding School was constructed there, again financed by the men of the corps.[4]
During World War I the Engineers were formed into the 1st West Riding Divisional Royal Engineers (T), commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Albert E. Bingham, and saw action at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The headquarters on Glossop Road became known as Somme Barracks in remembrance of this. The drill hall at the barracks has been used for various exhibitions over the years and also hosted regular professional wrestling matches at one time.[5] Up to the early 1990s the barracks were the headquarters of the 106 (West Riding) Field Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteers) and the University of Sheffield Officers' Training Corps. The Field Squadron moved out and relocated to the newly built Bailey Barracks at Greenhill in Sheffield in 1994 leaving the University Officers' Training Corps as the only unit at Somme Barracks.[6]
Architecture
Turnell built the barracks in the
Current unit
Only one unit continued to reside at the location.
- Sheffield University Officer's Training Corps[8][9] (1911-2011)
- Yorkshire Officers Training Regiment (Since 2011 - Present)[10]
References
- ISBN 978-1-909188-58-7.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Somme Barracks and Drill Hall (1270542)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 April 2013. Gives architectural details of hall.
- ^ "Disregard of a rule". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 10 January 1908.
- ^ ISBN 0 300 10585 1, Page 129, Gives architectural details.
- ISBN 0 9519351 3 5, Pages 40-43, Gives historical details.
- ^ "Sheffield UOTC". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- ^ Chris Hobbs website Gives details of William Barnsley Allen.
- ^ "Leeds UOTC". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "Army Reserve Centre, Somme Barracks, Clossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HU". Army Careers. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-909188-58-7.