Ebrington Barracks

Ebrington Barracks
Derry, Northern Ireland

Ebrington Barracks
Ebrington Barracks
Location within Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54°59′54″N 7°18′39″W / 54.99834°N 7.31083°WCoordinates: 54°59′54″N 7°18′39″W / 54.99834°N 7.31083°W
Type Barracks
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator  British Army
Site history
Built 1841
In use 1841-2002
Garrison information
Occupants 8th Infantry Brigade

Ebrington Barracks was a military installation on the East of the River Foyle in Derry, Northern Ireland.

History

King James II built a star-shaped fort on the site from which he attacked Derry in 1689.[1] The present barracks, named after Hugh Fortescue, Viscount Ebrington (later Earl Fortescue), were built on the site in 1841.[1] The 27th Regiment of Foot and the 109th Regiment of Foot were originally based on the site.[2]

During the Second World War the barracks were used by troops of the United States Army from 1941 and became the base the US Army's 10th Station Hospital from 1942.[3] During the latter years of the War part of the base was handed over to Royal Navy and, under the name HMS Ferret, became a depot for ships refuelling and taking on munitions.[1]

During the Troubles the barracks were the base of 8th Infantry Brigade and were also the northern area regional command headquarters.[4] In April 2000 the Real Irish Republican Army lowered a device consisting of 5 lb of homemade explosives over the perimeter fence using ropes, and the bomb subsequently exploded damaging the fence and an unmanned guardhouse.[5] Then in January 2001 the Real Irish Republican Army were responsible for a mortar attack on the barracks: one mortar landed inside the perimeter fence of the base after being fired from a parked van but no one was injured.[6]

The barracks were closed when 8th Infantry Brigade moved to Shackleton Barracks in 2003 and the area in front of the barracks was redeveloped as Ebrington Square in 2011.[1] The Peace Bridge, built across the River Foyle between the main part of the City on the West and Ebrington Square on the East, was opened in June 2011.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Londonderry turns swords into ploughshares". Straight Arts. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Ebrington Barracks". Department of the Environment of Northern Ireland. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "County Londonderry Part 1". Second World War in Northern Ireland. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Gold Star". Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Bombing blamed on dissidents". BBC. 6 April 2000. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Dissident Republicans blamed for mortar attack". RTÉ. 23 January 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Turner Prize 2013, Ebrington Barracks, Derry-Londonderry". The Arts Desk. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.