Beachley Barracks
Beachley Barracks is a British Army base at Beachley in Gloucestershire, England, close to the England-Wales border at Chepstow. The Barracks is located at Beachley Point between the River Severn and the River Wye. It is the home of 1st Battalion, The Rifles.
Beachley Barracks | |
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Beachley, Gloucestershire in England | |
Entrance to Beachley Barracks | |
Beachley Barracks Shown within Gloucestershire | |
Coordinates | 51°37′13″N 002°39′11″W |
Type | Barracks |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | British Army |
Site history | |
Built | 1915 |
In use | 1915-present |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | 1st Battalion, The Rifles |
History
In 1915, during the First World War, the government requisitioned a large area of land at Beachley and constructed National Shipyard No.2. However, the war ended before production had begun. Instead, in 1924 it was decided to establish a British Army Army Apprentices School (which in 1966 was renamed as an Army Apprentices College) at Beachley to ensure a core of technical qualified soldiers with technical education combined with military training as potential NCOs and officers mainly for the specialist corps Royal Engineers, REME Plant Operator mechanics and RAOC.[1]
Since 2007 it has been the home of 1st Battalion, The Rifles.[2][3] In November 2016 the Ministry of Defence announced that the site would close in 2027.[4]
References
- "Army Apprentices College, Chepstow - History". Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- "Barracks set to close as part of armed forces cutbacks". Chepstow Beacon. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- "The Rifles - Regimental overview". British Army. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.