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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Erskine Barracks was a military installation at Fugglestone St Peter, in Wilton parish some 2+3⁄4 miles (4 km) northwest of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England.
Erskine Barracks | |
---|---|
Fugglestone St Peter | |
![]() Erskine Barracks undergoing demolition | |
Coordinates | 51°5′13″N 01°51′5″W |
Type | Barracks |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | ![]() |
Site history | |
Built | 1949 |
Built for | War Office |
In use | 1949-2010 |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | Headquarters Land Forces |
The site, which had been farmland[1] until used for temporary army buildings during World War II, was acquired by the British Army for use as a headquarters for Southern Command in 1949.[1] The establishment was centred on Fugglestone Farmhouse[1] and an Ordnance Survey map of 1958 labels it as Fugglestone Camp.[2]
The barracks were later named after General Sir George Erskine,[3] who had been GOC Southern Command from 1955 until his retirement in 1958.[4] The site went on to become in 1968 the headquarters of Army Strategic Command, which was renamed UK Land Forces in 1972 and Land Command in 1995. On 1 April 2008 Land Command amalgamated with Headquarters Adjutant General under 'Project Hyperion' and became Land Forces.[5] Land Forces moved from Erskine Barracks to the former RAF Andover site now known as Marlborough Lines on 23 June 2010,[6] and the site became vacant.
At time, that the site covered 9.6 hectares to the north of the railway line and 3.8 hectares (less fully developed) to the south.[1] The former farmhouse had been demolished by 1968 and all standing structures were from 1950 or later.[1] In 2014 the headquarters building was described as "an impressive example of brutal modernism".[1]
The site was sold to housebuilder Redrow in March 2013,[7] and all its buildings were demolished in 2014.[1] Besides housing, the site has Erskine House which provides 44 flats for former military personnel, and offers training for their return to civilian work.[8][9]
The National Army Museum has a Bath stone fireplace salvaged during the demolition in 2001 of Bridge End House, a building of c.1900 used as an administrative block by the Army.[10]
During demolition in 2014, a photographic record of selected buildings – including the Sergeants' Mess and the Headquarters – was made by Wessex Archaeology to form a historic building record, as required by Wiltshire Council under a planning condition.[1] No archaeological features were found during a simultaneous watching brief.[1]
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