Victoria Barracks, Ballater

57°02′57″N 3°02′48″W / 57.04920°N 3.04675°W / 57.04920; -3.04675TypeBarracksSite informationOwnerMinistry of DefenceOperator British ArmySite historyBuilt1850Built forWar OfficeIn use1850-PresentGarrison informationOccupantsRoyal Regiment of Scotland

Victoria Barracks is a military installation in Ballater, Scotland.

History

The barracks were built as temporary accommodation in 1850 to accommodate the Queen's Guard around the time that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert acquired Balmoral Castle.[1] A row of Tudor style cottages were converted into permanent barracks in 1869 and some flat-roofed oriental-looking buildings were erected on the site in 1904.[2][3][4] Further modernisation, including the removal of some old huts, took place in 1969.[5] During the flooding caused by Storm Frank in late December 2015, families living in the worst affected parts of Ballater were evacuated to the barracks.[6] When Queen Elizabeth II resided in Balmoral Castle for three months each summer, the barracks housed the Royal Regiment of Scotland's Royal Guard.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Temporary Barrack at Ballater for the Queen's Guard of Honour". The Illustrated London News. 21 September 1850. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  2. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Queen's Road, Abergeldie Road and School Lane, Victoria Barracks including boundary wall (LB21832)". Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record - Aberdeenshire - NO39NE0117 - Victoria Barracks, Ballater". online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk.
  4. ^ "Victoria Barracks". Scottish Architects. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Victoria Barracks, Ballater (Modernisation)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 14 May 1969. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Ballater counts the cost of Storm Frank". The Press and Journal. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Places of Interest - Ballater Community". Retrieved 24 February 2021.