During the reign of Charles II, The Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards
— along with some of the Foot Guards — had accommodation provided
in a number of the Royal Palaces, or in the more important garrisons.

Notable ones were at the Tower Of London (which was once a Royal Palace)
in the late 1660s; during the great plague in 1665; and temporary "barracks"
accommodation in Hyde Park.

Indeed, the word "barracks" - used to describe accommodation for the
military - seems to have been used for the first time round about 1670, in
describing the (then) completed accommodation in the Tower Of London.

Prior to that, in 1664, there is evidence of Horse Guards close to the Palace
Of Westminster, St James' Palace, Somerset House, Kensington Palace, Savoy
Palace, Tower Of London, and — some years later — at Hampton Court.

At other times, as and when circumstances required, extra troops were provided
with billets in camps in some of the Royal Parks.

Today, the Household Cavalry is accommodated at:

Combermere Barracks, Windsor

Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, London

Horse Guards, Whitehall, London

. . . and don't forget the . . .

Household Cavalry Museum

The Household Cavalry Museum is at Horse Guards, Whitehall, London.
The Household Cavalry Museum Archive is based in Windsor.

W ant to become a "Friend of the Household Cavalry Museum"? Wish to be a little more informed and involved with the Household Cavalry? Then just click on the link below for an Application (and Gift Aid) form: FRIEND

Household Cavalry Museum Archive

The Household Cavalry Museum Archive, at Combermere Barracks,
is not only the repository for Regimental records, but also home to
a great many artefacts — old, and not so old — such as this model
of a Chinook helicopter (donated by a former soldier who served
with The Blues And Royals). It does everything but fly!

Major (Ret'd) Paul Stretton (left) receives the Chinook from
John Hamilton-Fford (formerly The Blues And Royals).

Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge

Hyde Park Barracks is situated at the edge of Hyde Park, in the heart of
London's shopping mecca, Knightsbridge.

It is home to men (and their families) and horses of the Household Cavalry
Mounted Regiment, which provides Sovereign's Escorts, and Queen's Life
Guard, as well as men (and horses) for many other state and civic functions.

Around 1661/62 "stabling" was provided in Leicester Fields and Hyde Park
(origin of the barrracks in Knightsbridge), and around twenty years later,
Life Guards and Horse Grenadiers had their headquarters in the Royal Mews,
Charing Cross (on the site of what is now the National Gallery).

Late in 1793, 1st and 2nd Life Troops of The Life Guards were occupying
new barracks — designed by James Johnson — built on a strip of land
between Hyde Park and Knightsbridge, thought to be the first cavalry
barracks in Britain.

The parade ground was small and damp, and very little sunlight found its
way in — making life more challenging than normal.

Officers' quarters were also incorporated within the barracks.

In 1878, the Hyde Park Barracks were rebuilt, with taller buildings
compensating for the lack of ground area.

The 1st and 2nd Life Guards occupied the barracks in 1880, but in the late
1960s there came another rebuild — by Sir Basil Spence — which introduced
tower blocks in order to optimise the available space.

The entrance "pediment" to the present barracks came from the riding school
of the 1880 barracks.

The stables (refurbished 2005/2006) are located on two levels, in order to
capitalise on the available space, with two ramps — one up, and one down
— leading to the parade ground.

Coils are embedded in the concrete ramps, which can be heated in cold weather,
thus keeping the surfaces free of ice which could cause horses to slip and fall.

Today, Hyde Park Barracks is home to some 300 Officers and soldiers — and
almost as many horses — of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Historic Images Of (And In) Hyde Park Barracks The following selection of photographs gives some idea as to how things once were at Knightsbridge - conditions, facilities and space seemed more generous at Hyde Park Barracks in those days!

One-time Officers' Quarters, Knightsbridge	Former Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge
The old barracks were impressive	Time to mount up!
'Who's next for a bath?'	The surroundings look unfamiliar!

Combermere Barracks, Windsor

Combermere Barracks, comprising over twenty acres - within a mile of Windsor Castle,
in Berkshire - is the home of the Household Cavalry Regiment.

The barracks date back to 1804, from which time it has probably always been the
quarters of the Household Cavalry.

In 1953, there began a programme of redevelopment, which lasted for some ten years,
during which the accommodation for men, horses, and vehicles was modernised.

Some specific buildings are of later development - the Riding School (dating from 1881),
the LAD buildings, and the Quarter Master (Tech) buildings - being updated in the 1970s.

Latterly, a gymnasium has been completed, and 2006 saw work well under way into
bringing the accommodation buildings up to the standards required today.

The situation was very different in the 1660s, when men and horses were billeted
around the many inns, taverns, and ale-houses — in areas as far afield as Egham,
Staines, and Chertsey — with an inlying picquet based in the nearest inns to
Windsor Castle.

For many years two Corporals of Horse, on court duty to the Castle, were billeted
regularly either in the "White Hart" or the "Castle Hotel".

Note: See footnote re Lord Combermere at bottom of page.

The Household Cavalry Regiment
Memorial, in Combermere Barracks

Close-up of the Household Cavalry Regiment
Memorial - a magnificent tribute

Potential recruits to the Household Cavalry should not be put off by what they
see on so-called reality shows on television — modern Army accommodation
may be better than you think!

The pictures below — of some of the accommodation buildings at Combermere
Barracks, Windsor (including some interior views) — give a taster of what new
recruits can expect.

Facilities are modern, clean,
tasteful and hygienic

Excellent laundering

Smart, comfortable quarters
await new recruits

Soldiers' accommodation, Windsor

More views of the accommodation

Entrance to the WOs & NCOs Mess, Combermere Barracks

Footnote

Lord Combermere was a very able cavalry commander in charge of Wellington's
cavalry in the Peninsula from 1810 onwards.

He was Sir Stapleton Cotton in those days, and had served in the Light Cavalry,
gaining experience in the Nederlands, the Cape, and India.

He gained distinction at the battle of Salamanca in 1812, and the Siege of Bhurtpore
in 1826.

He held the post of Colonel of the 1st Life Guards (Gold Stick) for 36 years, from
September 1829 to February 1865.

Household Cavalry Museum, Horse Guards

For years, Combermere Barracks (in Windsor) was home to the priceless and
irreplaceable objects that together record the long, proud and honourable
history of the Household Cavalry.

June 2007 saw the opening, by HM The Queen, Colonel in Chief of the Regiment,
of the brand new, purpose-built museum at Horse Guards.

The new museum allows for much more material to be on view, displayed in ideal
conditions, and available to a larger audience than has hitherto been possible.

Note that there is still a section of the Household Cavalry Museum (the Archives section) situated in Combermere Barracks, Windsor

Anyone visiting London should do three things before leaving:

1. Watch the Changing of The Queen's Life Guard

2. Visit the Household Cavalry Museum

3. Come back and repeat the exercise