More information : Regents Park barracks were designed as park of Nash's scheme for Regents Park and were intended to house 450 officers and men and 400 horses. The barracks were almost entirely rebuilt in 1891-3, following the original general layout, under Colonel R. Athorpe. The layout of the complex has the buildings arranged around a parade ground.
The Officers' Mess (Monument HOB UID 1510165) is the only building of the original barracks development to survive the rebuilding. Other buildings in the barracks include the Gothic Chapel situated north of the Officers' mess and built in 1857, the former hospital at the north end built in 1877, three parallel blocks to the south for soldiers and stables built in 1891, service buildings, built in 1891 and the riding school built 1891, now a garage, with steel trussed roof. (1-2)
The barracks were constructed in 1820-21as cavalry barracks for the Lifeguards and Artillery as part of John Nash's original design for Regent's Park. Nash had originally intended the barracks to be situated in the northern area of the park, well away from the residential area and separated from the rest of the park by Regent's Canal. However, Nash's plan was not accepted in its entirety by the Crown with one of the changes including a change in the location of the barracks to its present site. (3) |