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Soo my first post on here.. This wasn't my first ever explore but it was the first I brought my camera along to so here goes :Gulp: Where to begin? How about some -
History (partially stolen from here - http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__6198.aspx and here - http://brightonbits.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/preston-barracks-site.html )
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.
As far as I can find, the building we visited was the "mannock building" which was constructed in the early 1900's as officers' quarters. It was named in memory of WW1 flying ace Major Mick Mannock when it became the home of the Air Cadets. Mannock's father, a Scottish corporal, may have been billeted at the Barracks in the 1880's.
The Mannock building was built to last, to a design and quality deemed fitting for officers (and gentlemen) at a time when class still ruled, skilled labour was cheap and the nation's coffers were still inflated with the plunder of empire. This is reflected in its present external appearance which even after 100+ years appears hardly touched by time. It has stone-edged gables and mullioned windows. Inside it has a large stone fireplace still intact but elsewhere much damaged wood-panelling and once impressive staircases.
There is another building off to the left of it which we didn't have time to hunt around for access to as of yet, and I am struggling to find much information online on this building either, other than having been used by the territorial army as a firing range at one point, but I'm sure I'll be able to dig deeper on that one another time.
sadly this place seems to have fallen to the hands of every vandal in the city
real shame…
On with the pictures!
The pigeons seemed to have claimed this room as their own and they were rather restless (not to mention smelly!) so we didn't venture into here
Thanks for looking :mrgreen:
History (partially stolen from here - http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__6198.aspx and here - http://brightonbits.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/preston-barracks-site.html )
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.
As far as I can find, the building we visited was the "mannock building" which was constructed in the early 1900's as officers' quarters. It was named in memory of WW1 flying ace Major Mick Mannock when it became the home of the Air Cadets. Mannock's father, a Scottish corporal, may have been billeted at the Barracks in the 1880's.
The Mannock building was built to last, to a design and quality deemed fitting for officers (and gentlemen) at a time when class still ruled, skilled labour was cheap and the nation's coffers were still inflated with the plunder of empire. This is reflected in its present external appearance which even after 100+ years appears hardly touched by time. It has stone-edged gables and mullioned windows. Inside it has a large stone fireplace still intact but elsewhere much damaged wood-panelling and once impressive staircases.
There is another building off to the left of it which we didn't have time to hunt around for access to as of yet, and I am struggling to find much information online on this building either, other than having been used by the territorial army as a firing range at one point, but I'm sure I'll be able to dig deeper on that one another time.
sadly this place seems to have fallen to the hands of every vandal in the city
real shame…On with the pictures!
The pigeons seemed to have claimed this room as their own and they were rather restless (not to mention smelly!) so we didn't venture into here
Thanks for looking :mrgreen:
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