On the
historic site, on which The Royal Green Jackets
Museum stands, William the Conqueror built a
royal castle (1067), which was extended by King
Henry III (1216-72). The castle was besieged by
Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War
(1645) and, after its occupants had surrendered,
was partially demolished in 1651.
In 1683 King Charles II chose the site for a
palace overlooking Winchester Cathedral. The
palace was designed in the manner of Versailles
by Sir Christopher Wren, but, following King
Charles II’s death (1685), it was never
completed.
In the 18th century the palace, known as The
King’s House and in an increasingly neglected
state, was used to accommodate French, Spanish
and Dutch prisoners captured during the Seven
Years’ War (1756-63) and the American War of
Independence (1775-83).
The Kings House, centre left, with Winchester
Cathedral in the middle distance, 1838
In 1796 the site was leased from the Crown for
use as a military barracks. Thereafter:
1796-1856: The barracks housed 3,000 troops
during the Napoleonic Wars and numerous
regiments temporarily between 1815 and 1856,
including the 43rd Light Infantry and the 60th
Rifles (King’s Royal Rifle Corps).
1839: The main railway line from London to
Southampton on the western boundary of the
barracks was opened with a platform available
for use by the troops in the barracks.
1856: The 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade,
arrived from Portsmouth.
1858: The barracks became the home base and
training depot of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC)
and The Rifle Brigade (RB).
1872: The barracks was officially titled The
Rifle Depot.
1894: The King’s House was destroyed by
fire. The depot was closed and
the troops moved to Gosport while the barracks
were rebuilt.
1899: The Prince of Wales (later King Edward
VII) laid the foundation stone for the new
barracks.
1904: The Rifle Depot re-opened with The King’s
House re-built in similar style to Wren’s
original design.
1914: At the outbreak of the First World War
5,000 reservists were mobilised, clothed,
equipped, armed and posted to their regiments in
five days. Subsequently 30,000 volunteers
destined for service in the KRRC and RB passed
through the gates of The Rifle Depot by the end
of September 1914.
1939: At the outbreak of the Second World War so
many recruits came forward to join the KRRC and
RB that it became necessary for the KRRC
recruits to be trained at Bushfield Camp, two
miles outside Winchester.
1943-4: The barracks were vacated by The Rifle
Depot and used to house the 60th Infantry
Regiment of the 9th (US) Infantry
Division which was preparing to take part in the
1944 D Day landings in Normandy. RB recruits
were trained near York.
Churchill
addressing US troops at The Rifle Depot, 1944.
After the war recruit training resumed at The
Rifle Depot.
1951-86: The Rifle Depot was variously
re-titled: The Green Jackets Depot (1951-58);
The Green Jackets Brigade Depot (1959-65); The
Rifle Depot (1966-82); and The Light Division
Depot (Winchester) (1983-6).
Between 1961 and 1964 the Depot moved to Bushfield Camp while the barracks were
modernised.
1986: After completion of a new barracks at Flowerdown on the outskirts of Winchester
(Andover Road), the barracks ceased to be used
as a training depot.
1994: The Ministry of Defence relinquished its
occupation of most of the site for private
residential use, with the area of the former
parade ground landscaped and renamed Peninsula
Square. Three buildings were retained to
accommodate some MOD offices, including the
Regimental Headquarters of The Royal Green
Jackets, and Winchester’s Military Museums.
Today the site continues to accommodate some MOD
offices, including the Regimental Headquarters
of The Rifles, and Winchester’s Military
Museums. Peninsula Square with its smart houses
and landscaped gardens is also one of the most
desirable places to live in Winchester.
The Barracks today
More information about the history of the site
and how it relates to the wider history of the
City of Winchester is available in Winchester’s
Military Museums Visitor Centre and in
The City
Museum
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