History Of Wellesley Barracks

Wellesley Barracks is a military installation in Halifax, West Yorkshire
The barracks was built in the Fortress Gothic Revival Style as a depot for the 33rd and 76th Regiment's. On 1 April 1873 the depot was established, with construction completed in 1877. On 1 September the Depot Companies of the 33rd and 76th Regiments marched in.
Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces.
Following the Childers Reforms, the 33rd and 76th Regiments amalgamated to form the Duke of Wellington's Regiment with its depot at the barracks in 1881.
A Regimental Museum was established at the barracks in 1921.
The barracks was demoted to the status of out-station to the Yorkshire Brigade depot at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall in 1958 and the regimental museum collection was rehoused in the Bankfield Textile Museum in 1961, with the regimental archives and library remaining onsite.
Although many of the buildings on the site were subsequently demolished, the keep was retained and is owned by Calderdale Council, with no public access. In 2005 the barracks became the site of the new Halifax High School (now The Halifax Academy)

[@beana666]

A shame you didn't mention it was once the home of the Halifax Junior Music School where many of our young musicians trained.

[@heartofoak45]

There were similar Barracks built in various parts of the country in the latter part of the 19th and very early part of 20th century. Ostensibly to house troops of a local regiment I think there was very little hiding their true purpose. That was to subdue the local population if ever there was civil disorder and industrial strife. Those rifle slits and custodial keeps were not for embellishment. After the first world war, when dynasties were falling as well as governments and the rise of marxism there was a very real fear of 'contamination'.

[@gijgij4541]

These days, if you want to see young men in Halifax rough brawling and being a danger to local women, just go to the Acca...