More information : [Part of report on Barracks (AMIE UID 1516317), Commissariat Complex (AMIE UID 1516321), Quartermaster's Stores (AMIE UID 1516329) and Boundary Wall.]
Whittington Barracks were built as part of a far reaching national modernisation programme carried out by the Secretary of State for War Edward Cardwell during the 1870's. Work on the barracks started around 1877, was carried out by Harry Lovatt & Son of Wolverhampton and was completed by 1881 when they were occupied by the 1st and 2nd South Staffordshire Regiments and the 1st and 2nd North Staffordshire Regiments.
Edward Cardwell, appointed to the War Office in 1868, addressed a chronic recruitment issue through a process of reform set out in the Localisation Act of 1872. He set up a network of local depots each centred on an area with a population large enough to sustain it, rather than based on operational needs. It was the first national barrack building initiative in England during peacetime. Across Britain 29 new depots, including Whittington, were built from scratch, while about 40 existing barracks were adapted. The building programme was under the supervision of Major HC Seddon, Royal Engineers, Director of the Design Branch. The new barracks conformed to a standard model with local variations, and incorporated many of the improvements for which the Army Sanitation Commission and its predecessors had called.
Whittington Barracks has remained fully operational since 1881 and in this time has expanded, contracted and been altered to meet developing operational needs. Apart from the Staffordshire Regiments others also made use of the facilities from time to time and by 1902 enough accommodation had been added for the barracks to become a two battalion station. The war memorials were added in 1922, the church consecrated in 1924 (AMIE UID 1507044) and during World War II the barracks were occupied by the US Army. After the war the barracks were used by various units, some of the historic buildings demolished and new ones erected.
Red brick wall in English bond with rounded blue brick coping surrounding the original Victorian barracks. The outer face has rectangular recessed panels with decorative zig-zag blue brick at the top and stepped blue brickwork at the bottom. Internally the wall is supported by frequent piers. Some 40% of the original wall has been removed and as much as 15% of the remainder has been altered or rebuilt.
The assessment for each building group is provided separately below. It is however worth emphasising that a higher degree of selection is required for buildings constructed after 1840 on account of their greater survival. In particular architectural quality, planning interest, degree of alteration and group value with other related structures will be key considerations.
Whilst some care has been taken to create a wall with some architectural presence, the style chosen is typical of the period and similar to many found associated with railways in the West Midlands. When complete, the wall would have provided a clear statement on the purpose of the barracks. However, the loss of significant lengths and alteration of others means that most of the perimeter wall is not of special interest and does not meet the standard for listing. A section of the north west facing wall is, however, assessed separately because of its association with the Keep and its position at the front of the barracks (Case UID: 166847).
The Victorian barrack blocks, stores and much of the perimeter wall at Whittington Barracks have all seen considerable alteration, modification and refurbishment. This work has seriously undermined the significance of these buildings and structures, which although forming an interesting reminder of the Cardwell reforms on the British army are not well enough preserved to meet the standard for listing. (1) |