History - St John's Wood

Many people are unaware that hidden in the capital's most pleasant residential areas, is an Army Barracks. It may interest some to know how it came about that soldiers were first billeted and then stationed in the present areas, while London spread outwards and surrounded them.

In 1804, a Brigade of Artillery was stationed near the Master Gunner's House in St James's Park. Due to lack of room, the drivers and horses were billeted at St John' s Wood Farm which stood by itself between the villages of Paddington, Hampstead and Marylebone. The cost to the Board of Ordnance was £150 pa. In 1810 it was decided to move the whole Brigade to St John's Wood, and to this end about 4 acres of land immediately north of the farm were leased from the Eyre family (now Eyre Estate). Upon this land a small barrack block was built, in this way the Brigade, although still partially occupying the farm, had accommodation of-its own-and room to expand further.

In 1819 "in consequence of the peace" the Artillery Brigade was moved to Woolwich. Its purpose at St John,s Wood had been political rather than ceremonial, for on their departure, authority comforted itself with the assurance that "in the event of any riots or disturbance in London, the assistance of Artillery can always be had in a short time from Woolwich". However, that the Brigade did fire for ceremonial reasons is recorded in the Observer of February 1807, which announced the capture of Curacoa, for it concluded,   "At one o'clock the Park and Tower guns announced this important acquisition".

The barracks remained empty for several years whilst the Board of Ordnance tried in vain to sell the lease. In 1823 it was decided to move the Cavalry Riding Establishment from Pimlico to St John's Wood. The present riding school was completed in 1825, it was large, solid and carefully built and although now over 150 years old, the building remains structurally very strong. For some reason, the Cavalry Riding Establishment abandoned the barracks only seven years later, when ordered to Maidstone and the vast building, which had cost nearly £6000, stood empty. During this period, no stables were built in the barracks and the 78 horses on the Establishment's strength had been housed in a hired stable outside. The latter no longer exists, but the name remains in Ordnance Mews, near the top end of St John's Wood High Street.

In 1832 the Recruit Depot of Foot Guards moved into the recently vacated buildings and a new barrack block was built in 1835. Opinion of this barrack block was not high as can be seen from the report of a Committee of Inquiry, written only twenty three years after their completion, which stated, "though of recent construction, these barracks do not exhibit those advantages in healthy structural arrangements that might have been anticipated, and. exhibit the defects incident to back to back cottages". Until it was demolished in 1969, the only structural alterations to this building were an asbestos roof and the addition of washhouse annexes; yet they were still considered to be the 'best barracks in London District.

The recruit depot does not seem to have stayed long, and a Battalion appears.normally to have lived half at St John's Wood and half at Portman Street Barracks. Apart from the squalor and overcrowding, the soldiers had some advantages. There was a cricket ground (later the square and stables), five tennis courts and a gymnasium probably in the riding school.

Infantry remained in the Barracks until 1876, when it was determined to rebuild the Knightsbridge Cavalry Barracks. To accommodate the Life Guards temporarily during the rebuilding, St John's Wood was converted for cavalry, and this consisted of erecting temporary wooden huts as stables. It was ironical that the archaeological remains of their four year stay should still have been in use, when a second and recent rebuilding of Knightsbridge was being discussed.

In 1880 a Horse Artillery Battery moved into the Wood, and with the exception of the Two World Wars, Horse Artillery has remained there ever since. Its function has been primarily, but not exclusively, to act as a saluting battery and to perform such functions as the Royal Tournament. The Riding Troop RHA was formed on 17th April 1946 as the result of a direct wish of His Majesty King George VI, that a Troop of Royal Horse Artillery, mounted and dressed in the traditional manner, should once more be seen taking part in the great ceremonies of State. On 24th October 1947, His Majesty inspected the Troop and said he wished it to be known as His Troop, and Her Majesty has graciously decided that this title shall continue in her reign in recognition of her father's special interest in the Troop. Its duties, as part of the Household Troops, include the firing of Royal Salutes in Hyde Park on Royal Anniversaries and State occasions, and providing a gun carriage and team of black horses for State and Military Funerals. The Troop is also involved in other ceremonies such as Armistice Day, The Lord Mayor's Show and The Queen's Life Guard at Whitehall for a month each Autumn. During the summer, the Troop performs the Musical Drive at the Royal Tournament and at various Agricultural Shows up and down the country.

St John's Wood Barracks, as they stand today were completed-in 1972, the only parts of the old buildings to remain being the Riding School and the Officers' Mess.