Maryhill Barracks
Encyclopedia
Maryhill Barracks were built on 12 hectares (29.7 acre) of the Ruchill
estate, in the Maryhill
area of northern Glasgow
, Scotland. They were opened as Garrioch Barracks in 1872. Built to accommodate an infantry regiment, a squadron of cavalry and a battery of field artillery, it dominated the area which is now the Wyndford
housing estate. The barracks replaced the previous Infantry Barracks
at Duke Street
in the East End of the city, which dated from 1795.
Glasgow City Council had been petitioning the government since the early 19th century for more military protection from their fear of "riot and tumult" in the growing industrial areas. Despite the fact that Maryhill was an independent burgh
, it agreed to the erection of Glasgow's new barracks, the greatly enlarged complex opening in 1876. Higher quality than normal, the barracks engendered a sense of community. The Soldiers' Hotel, where those on leave could entertain relatives, and public houses with names such as the Highland Light Infantry
(HLI) and the Elephant and Bugle (the HLI emblem) gave Maryhill the feel of a garrison town. Vandalism was also reduced. Married quarters were added to the barracks in 1911.
Maryhill Barracks became the depot of the Highland Light Infantry
(City of Glasgow) regiment after the Childers Reforms
of 1881. During the 1919 40-hours general strike in Glasgow, the soldiers at Maryhill Barracks were deemed to be unreliable and were confined to barracks while troops from elsewhere were brought in to re-impose order. It was in 1919 that Maryhill Barracks was used as a marshalling place for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
before embarking for India
.
In May 1934 a bomb exploded in the barracks, which was alleged to be have been set off by the same person as bombed the Army Recruiting Offices, 139 Bath Street, a fortnight previously.
It was also home to the Scots Greys
and famously held Adolf Hitler
's second-in-command Rudolf Hess
during World War II
after his supposed "Peace" flight to the UK in 1941, at a time when it was used as a prisoner of war camp. In 1942, the Free French
leader, General Charles de Gaulle
, visited French troops there.
The Barracks were decommissioned and largely demolished in the early 1960s, to be replaced by the Wyndford
housing estate, although the guardroom and boundary walls remain. A Territorial Army unit, the 52nd Lowland
, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
, continues to be based at the adjacent Walcheren Barracks
. 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment
is also based near Kelvinside
, with 105 Regiment, Royal Artillery in nearby Partick
.
Ruchill
Ruchill is a district in the city of Glasgow. It lies within the Canal Ward of North Glasgow in the area between the Maryhill and Possilpark areas of the city. It has traditionally been characterised by a high degree of deprivation and social problems...
estate, in the Maryhill
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
area of northern Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland. They were opened as Garrioch Barracks in 1872. Built to accommodate an infantry regiment, a squadron of cavalry and a battery of field artillery, it dominated the area which is now the Wyndford
Wyndford
Wyndford is an area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Located in the Maryhill district in the Northwest of the city, Wyndford is bounded by Maryhill Road to the north and the River Kelvin to the south. The area comprises council housing that is typical of that which was built throughout Glasgow...
housing estate. The barracks replaced the previous Infantry Barracks
Gallowgate Barracks
Gallowgate Barracks were built in 1795. They were located at the east end of the Gallowgate, Glasgow, Scotland, and occupied in the year they were built...
at Duke Street
Duke Street, Glasgow
Duke Street is a street running to the East End of Glasgow from the High Street in the City Centre, through the residential district of Dennistoun, running past The Forge Shopping Centre, before terminating at a junction with the Great Eastern Road , Westmuir Street and Springfield Road, to form a...
in the East End of the city, which dated from 1795.
Glasgow City Council had been petitioning the government since the early 19th century for more military protection from their fear of "riot and tumult" in the growing industrial areas. Despite the fact that Maryhill was an independent burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
, it agreed to the erection of Glasgow's new barracks, the greatly enlarged complex opening in 1876. Higher quality than normal, the barracks engendered a sense of community. The Soldiers' Hotel, where those on leave could entertain relatives, and public houses with names such as the Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
(HLI) and the Elephant and Bugle (the HLI emblem) gave Maryhill the feel of a garrison town. Vandalism was also reduced. Married quarters were added to the barracks in 1911.
Maryhill Barracks became the depot of the Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
(City of Glasgow) regiment after the Childers Reforms
Childers Reforms
The Childers Reforms restructured the infantry regiments of the British army. The reforms were undertaken by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, and were a continuation of the earlier Cardwell reforms....
of 1881. During the 1919 40-hours general strike in Glasgow, the soldiers at Maryhill Barracks were deemed to be unreliable and were confined to barracks while troops from elsewhere were brought in to re-impose order. It was in 1919 that Maryhill Barracks was used as a marshalling place for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
before embarking for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
In May 1934 a bomb exploded in the barracks, which was alleged to be have been set off by the same person as bombed the Army Recruiting Offices, 139 Bath Street, a fortnight previously.
It was also home to the Scots Greys
Scots Greys
The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers to form The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ....
and famously held Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's second-in-command Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Walter Richard Hess was a prominent Nazi politician who was Adolf Hitler's deputy in the Nazi Party during the 1930s and early 1940s...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
after his supposed "Peace" flight to the UK in 1941, at a time when it was used as a prisoner of war camp. In 1942, the Free French
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
leader, General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
, visited French troops there.
The Barracks were decommissioned and largely demolished in the early 1960s, to be replaced by the Wyndford
Wyndford
Wyndford is an area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Located in the Maryhill district in the Northwest of the city, Wyndford is bounded by Maryhill Road to the north and the River Kelvin to the south. The area comprises council housing that is typical of that which was built throughout Glasgow...
housing estate, although the guardroom and boundary walls remain. A Territorial Army unit, the 52nd Lowland
52nd Lowland Regiment
The 52nd Lowland Regiment now forms the 6th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as 6 SCOTS. Due to its erstwhile association with the 1st Regiment of Foot, it is the senior Territorial line infantry battalion in the British Army...
, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, each formerly an individual regiment...
, continues to be based at the adjacent Walcheren Barracks
Walcheren Barracks
Walcheren Barracks is a Drill hall located at Hotspur Street in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland. The current building was originally constructed in 1935 as the new Headquarters of the 9th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, which moved from 81 Greendyke Street near Glasgow Green...
. 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment
32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment
The 32nd Signal Regiment is a British Territorial Army regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals.- Regimental heritage :The 1st Lanarkshire Engineer Regiment were raised in Glasgow on 5 December 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force. The regiment was formally registered with the War Office on 27...
is also based near Kelvinside
Kelvinside
Kelvinside is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde and is bounded by Dowanhill, Hyndland and Broomhill to the South with Kelvindale and the River Kelvin to the North...
, with 105 Regiment, Royal Artillery in nearby Partick
Partick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
.