Barracks Square or the Militia Barracks is a square Macclesfield

Macclesfield

Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 that was first developed in the 1850s for the military.
The barracks, consisting of married quarters, CO's quarters and the armoury were for the use of the permanent staff of the 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia

2nd Royal Cheshire Militia

2nd Royal Cheshire Militia were raised and based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England in 1853. Later embodied - the 4th Battalion Cheshire Regiment and served in the Boer Wars....

.

Military History

• Land off Crompton Road discussed for purchase in April 1852.
• In 1857 the County Quarter Sessions resolved that a barracks should be provided for the arms, stores and permanent staff of the 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia
  2nd Royal Cheshire Militia
  2nd Royal Cheshire Militia were raised and based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England in 1853. Later embodied - the 4th Battalion Cheshire Regiment and served in the Boer Wars....
  
  .
• Designed by a local architect James Stevens, together with a Mr Pownall of London. The buildings were completed in 1858-1859.
• The Barracks was built as the home of the 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia
  2nd Royal Cheshire Militia
  2nd Royal Cheshire Militia were raised and based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England in 1853. Later embodied - the 4th Battalion Cheshire Regiment and served in the Boer Wars....
  
   in 1858-1859 by Mr W H Brown from Stockport for the sum of £11,381-1-10 (1860 price).
• 1914 Kelly also noted that 'The D Squadron, The Cheshire (Earl of Chester's) Yeomanry Territorial Force have head quarters at The Barracks, Crompton road.

Civilian History

• After the Army left, large parts of the Barracks were rented to the Scouts. Armoury Towers was even fitted with its own 15 yard indoor rifle range. The first shots being fired by Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
  Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
  Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
  
  .
• 1918 the barracks became private dwellings. The armoury became a store for general industry and was used as a cork factor and pig farm at different times.
• A some time a printing company called Sherratts used to let some rooms at the Barracks. The company also had premises on Thorpe Street and Lower Heyes at one time or another. Sherratts also apparently had a small golf course in Higher Hurdsfield at one time.
• 11 October 1973. Grade II listed status granted.
• 1977 - The old Armoury (later Armoury Towers) was converted for use as a night club. The Armoury Club was set up by a Mr Peter Hague and Peter Dale. In 1980 they sold the club to Mr John Collier and Mr Mike Perks who renamed it "Knights".
• 1977 - The whole barracks was declared a conservation area.
• 1984 - http://www.planportal.macclesfield.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=37628P&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%27wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=332347%26StartIndex=1%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=wphappsresweek1%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%27%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3EDemolition] of 13 garages and entrance to old nightclub. Extension to rear.
• 1989 - Old nightclub http://www.planportal.macclesfield.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=56640P&theTabNo=2&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%27wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=332347%26StartIndex=11%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=wphappsresweek1%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%27%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3Econverted ] to self contained apartments by Messers Collier and Perks.
• 2006 - http://www.planportal.macclesfield.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=06/2739P&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%27wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=332347%26StartIndex=21%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=wphappsresweek1%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%27%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3EDrummer's Keep] and Evington House were renovated. Evington House had previously been used as a plumber's merchants, whilst Drummer's Keep was a timber / builders yard.
• 2007 - Barracks Square Renovation Committee formed.
• 2008 - Central garden removed to allow original drains to be replaced. New garden built by residents upon receipt of grants from Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster
  Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster
  Major-General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, , is the son of Robert George Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Hon. Viola Maud Lyttelton. He is the owner of property company Grosvenor Group...
  
   and Peter Jones.
• 2009 - New flagpole donated by Sir Nicholas Winterton
  Nicholas Winterton
  Sir Nicholas Raymond Winterton is a retired British Conservative Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Macclesfield from 1971 until he retired from the House of Commons at the 2010 general election....
  
  DL MP.
• 2009 - Perimeter wall to Armoury Court Mews / Crompton Road repaired. Macclesfield Civic Society award presented.
• 2009 - Clock mechanism replaced.
• 2010 - Main parade ground http://www.planportal.macclesfield.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=08/0746P&backURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%20%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%27wphappsearchres.displayResultsURL?ResultID=332347%26StartIndex=21%26SortOrder=APNID:asc%26DispResultsAs=wphappsresweek1%26BackURL=%3Ca%20href=wphappcriteria.display%3ESearch%20Criteria%3C/a%3E%27%3ESearch%20Results%3C/a%3Eresurfaced ] by donations from residents.
• 27 April 2011 - Awarded Macclesfield Civic Society award for the renovation works.
• 24 May 2011 - new weather vane fitted (kindly paid for by Louise Robinson and Tony of 10+12 Barracks Square).

Photographs

To see old and new photos visit here and go to the "public" tab to see photos old and new - including the 2010 renovation, press releases, etc..

Electoral Rolls & Censuses

Electoral rolls (1945 - 1974) and censuses (1871-1911) are here.

Video

See some video footage

Other useful links

• 1882 Ordnance Survey map
• View Barracks Square on Google Maps.