Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Church Crookham; Housing the British Army's Gurkha Regiments

Summary

In 2004, an archaeological investigation and recording began of the barracks at Church Crookham in Hampshire prior to its demolition. Although these simple 1930s structures were of limited intrinsic architectural significance, as a collection of structures the site was of considerable historical and social interest. Hastily constructed before the outbreak of World War II, its function changed over time. Notably, between 1970 and 2000, the barracks housed Gurkha regiments, military units of the British Army composed of Nepalese soldiers. During these years, they left a distinctive mark of their way of life on the buildings. Although the structures were never considered worthy of listing, neither collectively nor individually, the data collected before redevelopment of the site increases our understanding of the daily lives of the standing army in post World War II Britain. It also provides a valuable record that contributes to the wider characterisation of 20th century barrack buildings.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeologies of Workers’ Housing   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 466