Catterick Garrison

Catterick Garrison


Single Living Accommodation (SLA) blocks at Catterick.
Catterick Garrison
 Catterick Garrison shown within North Yorkshire
Population 13,000 
OS grid referenceSE180980
DistrictRichmondshire
Shire countyNorth Yorkshire
RegionYorkshire and the Humber
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town CATTERICK GARRISON
Postcode district DL9
Dialling code 01748
Police North Yorkshire
Fire North Yorkshire
Ambulance Yorkshire
EU Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK ParliamentRichmond
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire

Coordinates: 54°22′39″N 1°43′19″W / 54.3774°N 1.7220°W / 54.3774; -1.7220

Catterick Garrison is a major garrison and town located 3 miles south of Richmond in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world with a population of around 13,000 and measuring over 2,400 acres, however under plans announced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in November 2005, the population of Catterick Garrison is expected to grow to over 25,000 by 2020, making it the largest population centre in the local area.[1]

History

The siting of the garrison was first recommended by Robert Baden-Powell who founded the Scouting movement in 1908 whilst he was based at the army barracks—at that time located in Richmond Castle.[2] On 12 August 1914, the order was issued for the construction of the camp, following the outbreak of the First World War. The original intention for Catterick was to be a temporary camp to accommodate two complete divisions with around 40,000 men in 2,000 huts.[3] The base was originally named Richmond Camp until being changed to Catterick Camp in 1915, later modified to Catterick Garrison. After serving as a prisoner of war camp at the end of the First World War, the idea to make Catterick a permanent military barracks was first suggested after the partitioning of Ireland in 1921, the required land was purchased and building plans were put forward in 1923. Construction was undertaken by John Laing & Son[4] and by the mid 1930s most of the camp's facilities were complete, during the Second World War the camp was once again used to house prisoners of war.[5]

Governance

The town lies within the Richmond (Yorks) parliamentary constituency, which has been represented since 1989 by Conservative William Hague. It also lies within the Central Richmondshire electoral division of North Yorkshire County Council and its boundaries lie in both the Hipswell and Scotton wards of Richmondshire District Council.[6]

Geography

Catterick Garrison is located on the A6136 road, connecting Richmond with the A1 road at Catterick Village, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) to the east. Nearby settlements to Catterick Garrison include the suburban settlements of Scotton 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south and Hipswell 0.7 miles (1.1 km) to the east, as well as Colburn, 1.9 miles (3.1 km) to the east.

Transport

The Garrison is without a railway station, Catterick Camp railway station served as a terminus station on the Eryholme-Richmond branch line until its closure in 1964, the closest mainline railway stations are now found at Northallerton and Darlington, both are equidistant, at 15.9 miles (25.6 km) south-east and north-east respectively. Regular bus services to Richmond and Darlington are operated by Arriva North East, the closest airport is Durham Tees Valley Airport, 21.3 miles (34.3 km) north-east.

Community and culture

Lacking a true "town centre," the Garrison gained its first large supermarket, a Tesco store, in 2000; along with a retail park known as "Richmondshire Walk", which also includes a McDonalds, a Poundstretcher and a Peacocks, among others. "Catterick Leisure Centre" is a purpose built complex opposite the retail park, opened in July 2009, it offers a broad spectrum of leisure and fitness facilities including a swimming pool, and a gym, as well as an adjoining public library.[7][8] Catterick Garrison was once home to one Yorkshire's largest cinemas, the "Ritz Cinema" was opened on 21 December 1940 and had over 1000 seats, it was closed on 2 July 1977 after declining usage, today, the site is used as a health and beauty salon.[9] Duchess of Kent Hospital is the local military hospital and medical centre that was opened on 6 October 1976. It was a replacement to the old hospital that was in existence before the Second World War. Foxglove Covert, a local nature reserve was the first of its kind in North Yorkshire and the first to be located on Ministry of Defence (MoD) land in the UK. It covers 100 acres of moorland edge, and was opened in 1992, in 2001 it was declared a "Site of Local Nature Conservation Importance (SLNCI)".[10] In 2013 a £25 million development scheme for a new "town centre" was unveiled, to be built on a former sports ground, owned by the MoD. The plan includes space for retail outlets, a cinema, a 60 bedroom hotel and several dining establishments and bars, it is expected to create up to 700 jobs.[11]

Education

Primary education is provided by Carnagill Community Primary School, built in 1966,[12] Wavell School[13] and Le Cateau Community Primary School.[14] There are other nearby schools, not within the garrison area itself such as Colburn Community Primary School and Hipswell Church of England Primary School that are also used by residents.[15] Pupils then receive secondary education at Risedale Sports and Community College.[16] Alternatively, children may also attend school at Richmond School and Sixth Form College. Darlington College also has a campus at Catterick Garrison.[17]

Religion

The three garrison churches are dedicated to St. Joan of Arc,[18] St Aidan, and the Garrison Memorial Church of St Martin and St Oswald.

Garrison Cemetery

Catterick Garrison Cemetery, located on the north side of St John's Churchyard in Hipswell, was opened by the War Office in 1930 to serve the camp. Among its graves are 42 Commonwealth service personnel of the Second World War and some Polish servicemen.[19]

Previously soldiers from the camp and military hospital were buried in St John's Churchyard, which now contains the war graves of 64 Commonwealth service personnel of the First World War and 2 of the Second World War.[20]

Ministry of Defence Operations

The garrison consists of many different groups of buildings spread over a wide area and includes a number of barracks, most of which are named after historical British Army battles, many of which took place in Northern France during the First World War. They include:

Lines Place Named after Unit Notes
Wathgill Camp Operated by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation which also operates and manages the 20,000-acre (81 km2) training area and ranges adjacent to the Garrison.
Bourlon Barracks 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards.[21]
The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland.[22] 		Mechanized Infantry.[23]
Heavy Protected Mobility
Claro Barracks 21 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers.[24] Ripon
Helles Barracks Cape Helles, Dardanelles ITC Catterick[25] ITC Catterick Support Battalion
1st Infantry Training Battalion
2nd Infantry Training Battalion
222 Military Intelligence
Marne Barracks 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment.[23]
5th Regiment Royal Artillery[26] 		Located at the site of the former RAF Catterick.
Alma Lines Munster Barracks Battle of Alma The Royal Dragoon Guards Armoured Cavalry.[23]
Cambrai Lines Munster Barracks The Queen's Royal Lancers[23] Armoured Cavalry.
Megiddo Lines Munster Barracks 1 Close Support Battalion REME.[23]
Somme Barracks Battle of the Somme 1st Battalion, The Duke Of Lancaster's Regiment (Mechanised Infantry).[27]
Vimy Barracks Battle of Vimy Ridge HQ School of Infantry
Baghdad Lines 7 Training Regiment
Beachhead Lines 150 Provost Company.[23]
Loos Lines 1 Training Regiment
Peronne Lines 4 Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (204 Signal Squadron).[23]
Piave Lines The Band of The Royal Armoured Corps

Army 2020 Basing

The parade ground at Helles Barracks

Under Army 2020, the list will be modified and the units based at Catterick will be:[28]

HQ School of Infantry, Infantry Training Centre

Catterick is the largest of three Infantry Training Centres (ITCs) in the UK. ITC Catterick conducts infantry training combining Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Combat Infantryman's Course. Junior soldiers destined for the infantry continue to receive Phase 1 training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate. ITC Catterick is the major user of the Warcop Training Area.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Ministry's £1bn plan to upgrade garrison". The Northern Echo. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  2. ↑ "Catterick Garrison - About Us". British Army. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Catterick Garrison's Early History". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  4. ↑ Ritchie, p. 57
  5. ↑ "Every prisoner of war camp in the UK mapped and listed". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  6. ↑ Ordnance Survey Open Viewer
  7. ↑ "Catterick Leisure Centre". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Catterick Library". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Ritz Cinema". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  10. ↑ "Foxglove Covert". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "Catterick Town Centre Plans". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Carnagill School". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "Wavell School". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  14. ↑ "Le Cateau School". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  15. ↑ "Schools in Catterick". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Admission arrangements for the Northallerton area". Secondary school admissions. North Yorkshire County Council. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Darlington College at Catterick". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "St. Joan of Arc, Catterick Garrison". Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  19. ↑ CWGC Cemetery Report Catterick Garrison Cemetery.
  20. ↑ CWGC Cemetery Report Hipswell Churchyard.
  21. ↑ "Regular unit locations". Ministry of Defence (MoD). Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  22. ↑ "Turning Catterick Into A "Super Garrison"". Forces TV. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "4th Mechanized Brigade". British Army. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  24. ↑ "21 Engineer Regiment". British Army. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  25. ↑ "ITC Catterick - Battalions". British Army. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  26. ↑ "The Yorkshire Gunners". British Army. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  27. ↑ "1 LANCS". British Army. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  28. ↑ http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Army2020_Report_v2.pdf

Bibliography

External links

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