Cameron Barracks

About Cameron Barracks

Cameron Barracks stands on Knockentinnel Hill on the eastern outskirts of Inverness in Scotland. HistoryThe barracks were built by the Royal Engineers' Office between 1880 and 1886. In 1873 a system of recruiting areas based on counties had been instituted under the Cardwell Reforms and the barracks were intended to become the depot for the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot and the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Following the Childers Reforms, the barracks became depot of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 1881. During the First World War, the barracks was used to process many thousands of volunteer recruits. Returning wounded and demobilising soldiers also passed though the barracks towards the end of the war and on its conclusion. Conscientious objectors were, for a time, held here, as was the crew of a captured German submarine. The barracks remained in use as the base of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders until September 1960 when the regiment moved to Fort George, shortly before the amalgamation of Seaforths and Camerons. ArchitectureBuilt in the Baronial style, it consists of 4 2-storey blocks enclosing 3 sides of the parade ground. The north-west and west blocks each have, at their centre, twin conical-roofed drum towers linked by a balcony above the round-arched entrance. The north-east block is surmounted by an asymmetrical clock-tower. There is, at north-east corner, a square-plan entrance tower forming the main gateway. The barracks was listed as Category: B on 21 May 1971.

Cameron Barracks Description

Cameron Barracks stands on Knockentinnel Hill on the eastern outskirts of Inverness in Scotland. HistoryThe barracks were built by the Royal Engineers' Office between 1880 and 1886. In 1873 a system of recruiting areas based on counties had been instituted under the Cardwell Reforms and the barracks were intended to become the depot for the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot and the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Following the Childers Reforms, the barracks became depot of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 1881. During the First World War, the barracks was used to process many thousands of volunteer recruits. Returning wounded and demobilising soldiers also passed though the barracks towards the end of the war and on its conclusion. Conscientious objectors were, for a time, held here, as was the crew of a captured German submarine. The barracks remained in use as the base of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders until September 1960 when the regiment moved to Fort George, shortly before the amalgamation of Seaforths and Camerons. ArchitectureBuilt in the Baronial style, it consists of 4 2-storey blocks enclosing 3 sides of the parade ground. The north-west and west blocks each have, at their centre, twin conical-roofed drum towers linked by a balcony above the round-arched entrance. The north-east block is surmounted by an asymmetrical clock-tower. There is, at north-east corner, a square-plan entrance tower forming the main gateway. The barracks was listed as Category: B on 21 May 1971.