Invicta Park Barracks
Invicta Park Barracks | |
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Maidstone | |
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Park House, currently used as the Officers' Mess
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Location within Kent
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Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Type | Barracks |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | ![]() |
Site history | |
Built | 1936 |
Built for | War Office |
In use | 1936-Present |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | 36 Engineer Regiment |
Invicta Park Barracks is a military installation in Maidstone, Kent.
History
Permanent barracks were first established in Maidstone in around 1798.[1] This was a major cavalry barracks which emerged to become the Army Riding School in 1835.[2] The old barracks became the depot of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1881 but began to fall into disrepair: although the barracks blocks were demolished in 1991, the Officers’ Mess still survives as the White Rabbit Public House in Sandling Road.[3]
An adjacent site, just a few hundred yards north, was acquired from the Lushington family in 1936 shortly before the outset of World War II and a hutted camp known as Invicta Lines (reflecting Invicta, the motto of Kent) was built there.[4] The new barracks became the depot of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment[5] but were then demoted to the status of out-station to the Home Counties Brigade depot at Howe Barracks in Canterbury in 1959. The Regimental Headquarters of 36 Engineer Regiment have been based at the barracks since 1959.[4] The current barracks were built between 1965 and 1966.[6]
References
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