Why where hillsborough barracks built?

[old tup]

I don,t know if its true but someone told me that the reason Hillsborough Barracks where originaly built was that the government at that period where afraid of the population copying the French and starting a revolution.So it would seem the soldiers were there to put down any uprising by the citizens should it come to pass!.Have I got my facts right does anyone on the Forum have any info or input I am interested in finding out anything about this time in our history of Sheffield!.

[smary]

Found this: I think the first one built in 1797 was at Hillfoot.

Extract From Bailey to Bailey - A Short History of Military Building in Sheffield by Stephen Johnson.

 

Construction of the Barracks commenced 27th July 1792, opened 1794, cost over £2,000

Built of brick and stone, it housed two troops of cavalry - about 200 men. Built mainly of brick, stone was used for decoration. It was known locally as The Horse Barracks. Until a few years ago there was a pub near there called The Light Horseman

 

Constuction of Hillsborough Barracks started in 1848

 

November/December 1849 - 3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards stationed at Hillsborough Barracks, and the Sheffield Barracks closed almost immediately

[retep]

They were built to stop people nicking Burdall's gravy salt.

[muddycoffee]

...the government at that period where afraid of the population copying the French and starting a revolution...

 

All governments are worried about this.

 

Why do you think it is so hard to get a firearm nowadays and that handguns have been banned by law.

 

Nothing to do with the Dunblane massacre, that was just the catalyst to allow the politicians to justify the ban.

 

Exactly the same thing is happening in America at the moment. Gun laws have been tightened up. And the US government is trying to change general public opinion that weapons are bad, just as the British government did with us after the second world war when everyone was armed to the teeth.

[Plain Talker]

So the building of the barracks must have been just before the Crimean war.

[gnvqsos]

It was to quell union activity.

[retep]

Bit of info here,

http://www.historyhome.co.uk/c-eight/18reform/sheffcorr.htm

 

The working classes comprised artisans, the owners of small cutlery manufacturing units (known locally as little mesters') and a growing group of permanent journeymen who could not rise to be masters because of the increase in merchant capitalists. At the outbreak of the French Revolution, Sheffield was fertile ground for radical ideas and the growth of popular political clubs. In the 1790's many violent popular disturbances and political agitations occurred in Sheffield. For example, in 1791 several thousand people were involved in anti-enclosure riots and attempted to burn down the residence of Vicar of Sheffield. The riots lasted three days. There were also cries of No King', No Taxes' and No Corn Bill'. The scale of the violence led to the permanent billeting of troops in the town. The soldiers were unpopular and violent clashes between troops and. mob occurred in 1792 and 1796. During the widespread social unrest, Sheffield was considered' to be the storm centre' of trouble,

Edited October 26, 2013 by retep

[retep]

6 Nov 1847

SHEFFIELD BARRACKS

We may expect now, within a short time, to see the commencement of a long talked of, but longer needed, new barracks at Sheffield.

The existing barracks were among the first that were erected in the country.

They were intended as a temporary experiment; yet they have continued to be occupied till they have become almost ruinous.

The new barracks will be about half a mile further from the town.

A piece of land has been purchased just beyond the Owlerton toll-bar, containing about 25 acres, which has the advantage of fronting to the new Oughtibridge road on one side, and to the old Owlerton road on the other.

It is situated on the hill side, affording every facility for excellent drainage.

The plan is to divide it into three terraces.

The first of these will be occupied by the mess establishment and officers' quarters, which will face the Oughtibridge road, and form the front of the barracks.

From the back of the building, the two lower terraces will be overlooked.

The second terrace will be occupied by two ranges of quarters for infantry, a hospital and a spacious parade ground.

The third terrace will contain four ranges of quarters for cavalry, with stables, enclosing enclosing a parade ground.

The whole ground is irregularly shaped, and of this circumstance advantage has been taken to dispose the canteens stores &c, in side buildings.

The whole ground will be surrounded by a wall, having a tower at each of its six or eight angles.

The building immediately to be erected is the mess establishment and officer’s barracks.

Its length will be about 354 feet, fronting, as we have said, to the Oughtibridge road, and its width and height each about 40 feet.

It will be three stories high, and consist of a centre and two wings.

The architecture is a mixture of Gothic and castellated style.

In the centre is the principle gateway, and over it an oriel window. On each side are embattled towers.

The architecture of the two wings is of a plainer character, the heads of the ground floor windows being Gothic, and those of the upstairs being square.

The centre building contains the mess establishment, and the two wings the rooms of the officers.

The ground floor and the first floor are devoted to the use of the officers, and the top story to that of their servants.

The accommodation will be for 18 cavalry, and 19 infantry officers, and an equal number of servants.

Arrangements will be made, by flues in the walls, for the ventilation of the rooms; and the comfort of the officers will be consulted by several conveniences not generally possessed in barracks.

It may serve to illustrate the discomforts to which gentlemen in the army have to submit, to mention what is considered one of the greatest of these improvements.

It is the addition to each officer's room of a dark closet, capable of holding a bed, so that officers will not be compelled actually to make the same room serve as sitting room and bedroom, but will have the privilege to sleep in closets, without windows, separated only by curtains from their sitting rooms!

And this arrangement, which no private person in decent circumstances would bear, is considered a great improvement in the accommodation of military officers, many of whom are gentlemen of birth and fortune.

At the south-east corner of the barrack yard, will be a back entrance from the Owlerton road; and between the barrack yard wall and that yard, will be a piece of ground to be used as an exercising field.

The capacity of the new barracks, when completed, will be as follows:-

Cavalry Infantry

Field officers-----------2 ----------1

Other officers--------19 ----------------18

Officers sevants----21 -----------------19

Sergeants and privates--252 ------524

Hospital patients --------32 ----------- 58

'' staff ---------2 ------3

Horses; Officers'-----50 ----6

'' Troop-------204 -----------0

'' Sick--------15 ---------0

There will also be one provost-sergeant.

The mess establishment and officers' barracks are to be completed by the 1st May 1849. and it is supposed the cost will be about £15,000.

At present, the plans for only the mess establishment and the officers' barracks are prepared. For the rest of the building contemplated, the money has not yet been granted by Parliament.

We may anticipate that when these plans have been fully carried out, we shall again have the advantage of having our barracks made the head quarters of any troops that may be stationed there.

The Government appears to be quite alive to the fact, that the railways will make Sheffield an important military station.

Situated upon the most direct east and west trunk line; with easy access to Lancashire and to the east coast; with ready communication into the heart of the West Riding, or the Midland counties; troops stationed here will have all the facilities of movement that could be desired.

[Jim Hardie]

They were built to stop people nicking Burdall's gravy salt.

 

....a bit like Fort Knox then?

[gnvqsos]

6 Nov 1847

SHEFFIELD BARRACKS

We may expect now, within a short time, to see the commencement of a long talked of, but longer needed, new barracks at Sheffield.

The existing barracks were among the first that were erected in the country.

They were intended as a temporary experiment; yet they have continued to be occupied till they have become almost ruinous.

The new barracks will be about half a mile further from the town.

A piece of land has been purchased just beyond the Owlerton toll-bar, containing about 25 acres, which has the advantage of fronting to the new Oughtibridge road on one side, and to the old Owlerton road on the other.

It is situated on the hill side, affording every facility for excellent drainage.

The plan is to divide it into three terraces.

The first of these will be occupied by the mess establishment and officers' quarters, which will face the Oughtibridge road, and form the front of the barracks.

From the back of the building, the two lower terraces will be overlooked.

The second terrace will be occupied by two ranges of quarters for infantry, a hospital and a spacious parade ground.

The third terrace will contain four ranges of quarters for cavalry, with stables, enclosing enclosing a parade ground.

The whole ground is irregularly shaped, and of this circumstance advantage has been taken to dispose the canteens stores &c, in side buildings.

The whole ground will be surrounded by a wall, having a tower at each of its six or eight angles.

The building immediately to be erected is the mess establishment and officer’s barracks.

Its length will be about 354 feet, fronting, as we have said, to the Oughtibridge road, and its width and height each about 40 feet.

It will be three stories high, and consist of a centre and two wings.

The architecture is a mixture of Gothic and castellated style.

In the centre is the principle gateway, and over it an oriel window. On each side are embattled towers.

The architecture of the two wings is of a plainer character, the heads of the ground floor windows being Gothic, and those of the upstairs being square.

The centre building contains the mess establishment, and the two wings the rooms of the officers.

The ground floor and the first floor are devoted to the use of the officers, and the top story to that of their servants.

The accommodation will be for 18 cavalry, and 19 infantry officers, and an equal number of servants.

Arrangements will be made, by flues in the walls, for the ventilation of the rooms; and the comfort of the officers will be consulted by several conveniences not generally possessed in barracks.

It may serve to illustrate the discomforts to which gentlemen in the army have to submit, to mention what is considered one of the greatest of these improvements.

It is the addition to each officer's room of a dark closet, capable of holding a bed, so that officers will not be compelled actually to make the same room serve as sitting room and bedroom, but will have the privilege to sleep in closets, without windows, separated only by curtains from their sitting rooms!

And this arrangement, which no private person in decent circumstances would bear, is considered a great improvement in the accommodation of military officers, many of whom are gentlemen of birth and fortune.

At the south-east corner of the barrack yard, will be a back entrance from the Owlerton road; and between the barrack yard wall and that yard, will be a piece of ground to be used as an exercising field.

The capacity of the new barracks, when completed, will be as follows:-

Cavalry Infantry

Field officers-----------2 ----------1

Other officers--------19 ----------------18

Officers sevants----21 -----------------19

Sergeants and privates--252 ------524

Hospital patients --------32 ----------- 58

'' staff ---------2 ------3

Horses; Officers'-----50 ----6

'' Troop-------204 -----------0

'' Sick--------15 ---------0

There will also be one provost-sergeant.

The mess establishment and officers' barracks are to be completed by the 1st May 1849. and it is supposed the cost will be about £15,000.

At present, the plans for only the mess establishment and the officers' barracks are prepared. For the rest of the building contemplated, the money has not yet been granted by Parliament.

We may anticipate that when these plans have been fully carried out, we shall again have the advantage of having our barracks made the head quarters of any troops that may be stationed there.

The Government appears to be quite alive to the fact, that the railways will make Sheffield an important military station.

Situated upon the most direct east and west trunk line; with easy access to Lancashire and to the east coast; with ready communication into the heart of the West Riding, or the Midland counties; troops stationed here will have all the facilities of movement that could be desired.

 

Thats put my post into a hatted ****