My Brighton and Hove | Areas | London Road/Roundhill | Lewes Road | Preston Barracks, Lewes Road | Preston Barracks: Napoleonic times to latest conversion

Contribute

User name: Password:

How to contribute

Preston Barracks, Lewes Road

Preston Barracks 1850

From the private collection of Roy Grant

The Crimean Block

From the private collection of Roy Grant

The demolition of the Regency buildings

From the private collection of Roy Grant

Preston Barracks: Napoleonic times to latest conversion

By Roy Grant (author of the Brighton Garrison)

In 1793, fearing Napoleon may invade England and take the shortest route to London by landing his troops near Brighton, barracks for the infantry were built in Brighton's Church Street and at the same time, a far larger site in the nearby village of Preston was developed for their supporting artillery and cavalry.

Stabling for over 1000 horses
Initially the barracks at Preston were just a cluster of temporary timber huts on brick foundations, but these were soon replaced with more substantial brick and plaster buildings, including a canteen and stabling for over 1000 horses.

Demolished in 1990
Although separate married quarters were added to the south in the 1850s, and around 1900, the original blacksmith's forge and school block on the northern perimeter were demolished to make way for a more modern and impressive officers' mess, in essence, the original Regency buildings were hardly ever altered externally and the barracks remained structurally unchanged for almost 200 years. It therefore came as quite a shock in the 1990s that this impressive local historical landmark, was suddenly demolished to make way for a hypermarket complex.

Buildings converted into residential accommodation
These days, the only surviving building from the original 1793 barracks is the former canteen in the north western corner. This building was converted for use as the barrack hospital and morturary around 1820 (see Alex Somerfield's "Autobiography of a Working Man" which refers to cholera there in 1832) and Lord Cardigan of Charge of the Light Brigade fame, held various Court Martials there in the 1840s.

I knew it in more recent years when the Intelligence Corps, Royal Corps of Signals T& AVR and local Cadet force all used it as a base, and am pleased to say that having been reprieved from demolition, it has now been converted into some highly desirable residential accommodation.

Added to the site on 08-11-04

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

I found this really interesting as I lived there in the early 80s due to my father being in the Army. Is there anywhere else I could find information on Preston Barracks?

By Libby (15/10/2005)

I was very interested to see the peice on Preston Barracks as I have a photo of my grandfather in uniform when he was stationed there in 1914.

By Pat Warren (22/02/2006)

Is it possible to discover which regiments would have been stationed there between 1820 and 1830?

By Graham Camfield (08/03/2006)

I would really like to know what regiment was stationed there at the time of the 1901 census?

By Kathleen Mulrooney (17/03/2006)

Would anybody have information/pictures of the Barracks prior to 1960s as my family lived in the houses behind the main buildings from c.1943?

By Rita Hards (nee Tiley) (04/05/2006)

Just a little amount of information which might be of help as I lived in Upper Lewes Road and attended as a choir boy in the 1930s. St Martin's Church in Lewes Road was the garrison church for the barracks prior to my time. The flags of the different cavalry regiments used to hang in the church aisle and I remember were quite a site to see. Also a regular occurrence was the regiment clattering along our road for the weekly trip to Preston Park to play polo.

By C. Pelham (20/07/2006)

I was stationed there at the end of the 1970s. I understand that a certain Spike Milligan spent a short period there under lock and key. Though most of the old cavalry barracks had gone, along the back of the drill square the wall still had the rings to tie horses to. The pub just opposite was called the (Royal) Hussar.

By Bob Ellis (13/08/2006)

I would also love any more information on regiments that were stationed there around 1900-1903. Thank you.

By Sharon Fuller (21/12/2006)

My great great grandfather was a tailor for the army and, in 1845, married at Preston parish church. His address was just given as 'The Barracks'. Would there be any records of his employment or time there? Please can anyone advise me.

By Sheila Whittingham (26/01/2007)

I find this info very helpful. My grandfather was stationed at Preston Barracks in 1914-15 before being sent to France. Is there anyway I can find which regiments were stationed there. He was RFA.

By susan muir (21/02/2007)

I served with the Loyal Regiment later became the 1st Battalion, The Queen's North Lancashire Regiment from 1962 untill 1972. I lost my medals over the years. Any chance of getting them? Editor's Note: If you contact the Military of Defence Veterans' Agency - they have a website - there is a section about medals which will give you information. Best of luck

By Tom Chadwick (26/02/2007)

Are there any other photos available of Preston Barracks at all? Or even more in-depth history?

By Sue (23/04/2007)

My great grandfather(Charles Poulter) was stationed at the barracks on the 1891 census.if this is of any help to anyone ,he was in the 6th Dragoons.

By Mike Poulter (29/06/2007)

My father Frank Cresdee was in the Royal Artillery and stationed at Preston Barracks around 1925. Each day the horses where taken out for exercise up Hollingdean Road and on to Hollingbury. It was on these rides that my mother and father struck up their friendship as Roedale Road, where she lived, was on the route. They were married on June 21st 1926 and as Mum was a Brighton Resident and Dad's home town was Portsmouth, the knot was tied at Steyning Register Office. I believe that this was something to do with the area boundaries at that time. They remained married up to his death in 1979; mum lived on for another nine years. I seem to remember dad saying that his Commanding Officer at that time was a Major Strickland (possibly Strictland). I know that he was a man that my father greatly respected. In 1930 my father's was posted to India, my mother, brother and sister went with him. When they returned to England in 1938 my father returned to Preston Barracks under the same C.O.

By Dave Cresdee (25/08/2007)

Does anyone know of Regiments stationed there in around 1850-1856 please? Especially the 17th Lancers?

By Ben Caine (02/09/2007)

It's great to see my small piece has created such interest and my appogies to those who asked for specific further info, but much of the research that was not published in my book was subsequently lost when my old computer died.

By Roy Grant (31/10/2007)

In the 1930s I was still a wee lad and my mother took me down to Preston Barracks as they were holding a searchlight tattoo. We watched the soldiers marching with the horses and gun carrages around the parade ground to the army band. We then had a walk around to see the stables . After that we were given a ride in a new invention, a small tank with seats either side.( A bren gun carrier.) At night after dark they turned the searchlight on and lit up the sky.

By Viv Webb (02/01/2008)

I was interested to see an article about Preston Barracks as my ancestor Sir Charles Lilley was stationed there until friends helped to buy his discharge from 1st Royal Dragoons in 1854. I would be interested to see a photo of the uniform.

By Walter McLean (07/01/2008)

A soldier from Preston Barracks founded Brighton Rugby club in the 19th century.

By Leo (23/01/2008)

A number of you asked about which regiments were in the Barracks at certain dates. I have lost my final list but have found some notes I made to work from. My field of interest was 1793 - 1900, so I have made no notes beyond that date. I also stress that this is a "One OFF" from those rough notes, anyone wanting more info will just have to do a bit of digging for themselves.

Graham Camfield wanted 1820 - 1830
1820 1st Grenadier Guards
1821 10th Dragoons
1821 2nd Queens Royal West Surrey Regt.
1821-1822 3rd Kings Own Hussars
1822 58th Rutlandshire Regt.
1822 - 1824 1st Life Gaurds
1822 - 1824 7th Royal Fusileers
1822 10th Prince of Wales' Own Hussars
1822 7th Queens Own Hussars
1824 - 1825 Prince of Wales' Own Royal Lancers
1825 1st Grenadier Guards
1826 17th Duke of Cambridge Own Lancers
1826 52nd Hospital Regiment
1827 8th KIngs Royal Irish Hussars
1829 Princess Charlottes Dragoons
1829 6th Inniskiling Dragoon Gaurds
1829 15th Kings Regiment of Dragoons
1829 10th Prince Of Wales' Own Hussars
1830 7th Royal Fusileers

Ben Caine asked 1850-1856. They were as follows
1848 - 1854 Princess Royals Dragoon Guards
1851 8th Kings Royal Husars
1852 1st Royal Dragoons (Life Guards)
1853 17th Duke of Cambridge Lancers

Brighton must have been a very colourful place as the Barracks had space for 1000 horses and as you can see from the above, the cavalry regiments were constantly changing. A more detailed history of the Barracks themselves is in my book, but as there has been so much interest, I will have a look at my collection of illustrations and see if the website will allow me to make a suplementary submission.

By Roy Grant (26/01/2008)

Thanks for that info Roy. My Army ancestor Thomas Roberts lived in Brighton for 7 years after his 17th Lancers Army discharge in 1856. I now know why, because he was stationed there in the Lancers once or twice, he must have liked the place so settled there after he was discharged.

By Benjamin Caine (08/02/2008)

I know the 17th Lancers, 'The Death or Glory boys', where stationed in Brighton on their return from the Crimea in 1855 possibly. There is a photo of some troopers at Preston Barracks with a horse who were all survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade. The book is quite recent and oddly was written by a certain Terry Brighton!

By Robert Wrightson (22/02/2008)

It is known that infamous Lord Cardigan (of the Charge of the Light Brigade) was at Preston Barracks. He was not very well liked and often disciplined his men and officers by sending them to live in the Infantry barracks in Church Street. In 1840, a Captain Roberts was dismissed from the service by Lord Cardigan in a Court Martial that was held in what was then the barrack hospital. The building still stands in the north west corner.

I'm most interested to see the Crimea photo which must be a very early one. Hopefully it is Preston near Brighton, because in the past I have had some info on Preston Barracks that eventually turned out to be Preston in Lancashire.

By Roy Grant (28/02/2008)

My knowledge of Preston Barracks is more recent than the comments I have read. My grandfather had been in the 10th Hussars (in SA and India) at the start of the 20th century; he was then in the RE's TA becoming a Sgt/Major. He had a military funeral in 1935, on a gun carriage from Holland Street. My father join the RE's TA, 209 Field Park Sqn, after demob following the war, rising to the rank of Sgt. My cousin joined in 1960 and I joined in 1964, both remaining sappers!

By Leslie Carter (13/03/2008)

Hi Roy, I have a Great, Great Grandfather who lived at an address "Opposite Calvary Barracks, Brighton", in 1836-1837. Could you shed any light on what this would actually have been like? I believe he had been sent to Brighton to recover, he was staying with some relatives at the address shown above. Have you any pictures, or plans of what "Opposite Calvary Barracks" would have looked/been like? Please could you reply to my email account. Many thanks. Martin_Gooding@btinternet.com

By Martin Gooding (20/04/2008)

My dad was was based in Preston Barracks in WW2 he was a Bombardier, Royal Artillery.

By P Lucas (04/07/2008)

My Grandfather's regiment was based at the barracks. He was in the 4th/7th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards in the 1st World War. My mother told me of the regiment attending St Martins Church in Lewes Road and the guards clattering their spurs on the steps as they walked into the church.

By Sandra Buckle (nee Bunney) (09/07/2008)

I think my father was stationed in Preston Barracks in 1939/40. He was in the Royal Artillery and he met and married my mother at this time. He was a Liverpool lad but he stayed in Brighton after he was demobbed and raised a family. He later moved to Liverpool in 1954.

By Marlene Hodgson (nee Cadman) (03/09/2008)

My great great grandfather was living at Preston Barracks in 1877. I believe he was a private in the 20th Hussars. I have no idea where to look for what regiments were there at this time, would anyone be able to help? Many thanks.

By Alison Gladdish (nee Grant) (08/09/2008)

For Alison Gladdish. 1875 Second Scotts Greys: 1877 - 1878 Twentieth Hussars (your year was right): 1778 - 1880 Sixteenth Queens Lancers. For Martin Gooding. Replied to you direct, regarding "opposite the barracks" but no acknowledgement.

By Roy Grant (03/10/2008)

Do you know which regiment was stationed in the barracks at the time of the 1881 census?

By Maureen Harrison (05/10/2008)

To Maureen Harrison:
1880 - 1881 The 5th Princess Charlottes of Wales' Dragoons
1879 - 1885 The 4th Royal Irish Lancers
and possibly others

By Roy Grant (06/10/2008)

The 1901 England Census taken on the 31st March of that year shows my grandfather as being present in the barracks. The census is marked as a Public Record Office document ref:13/946. My grandfather was a member of the Royal Field Artillery as were several other soldiers staying at that time.

By Philip Barnett (19/10/2008)