Norton Barracks

A circular, dated 21st April 1873, contained a warrant, dated 8th April 1873, stating that her Majesty had sanctioned the formation of district brigades. The Worcestershire Militia, to which a 2nd Battalion was to be added, was brigaded with the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment, the 36th (Herefordshire) Regiment, and the Herefordshire Militia; the whole forming the 22nd Brigade under Colonel Robert White, C. B., late 17th Lancers (Light Dragoons). New Barracks were to be built for the accommodation of the brigade depot at Norton, about three miles from Worcester.

In 1872 the War Department purchased the 20½ acres site for £3,500, and work on building the barracks was started in December 1874. By May 1877 the new Norton Barracks was completed and handed over to the Regiment. On the 17th December 1877, Captains Claremont and Cooper, Lieutenants Littledale and Ross, with Sergeant-Major T. Shattock, 4 Sergeants, 5 Corporals and 12 Privates, under the command of Major Berkeley, proceeded by train to Worcester, and then marched to the new Norton Barracks. These Barracks would now accommodate the depot companies of the 29th and 36th Regiments. To the Depot of each Regiment was assigned a block of buildings, over the doorway of which was painted the name of the officer who raised the particular regiment.

In November 1877, a party from the 36th Foot arrived as the Depot Company of the 36th Foot to prepare the barracks for occupation, then on 17th December, 1877, five Officers, one Warrant Officer, four Sergeants, five Corporals and twelve Privates arrived as the nucleus Depot Company of the 29th Foot. Each Depot Company was assigned a block of buildings, over the doorway of which was painted the name of the officer who raised the Regiment

In 1939 the function of the Depot was still to train recruits and administer the regimental home. Early in 1940 a principle was established by which training divided into “Primary” training, covering the first six weeks of service, and “Corps” training, which concentrated on the more advanced training for infantry as such. To meet requirements the 23rd Infantry Training Centre (I.T.C.) was set up at Norton with two Primary Training Companies and two Corps Training Companies, the old Depot dwindling to a small Depot party and reduced to a strength of four officers and a few other ranks. Initially the number swarming into the barracks was so great that the old Jam factory (now Morgan Crucible) was requisitioned and a hutted camp built which included large Officers' and Sergeants' Messes, two O.R's cookhouses, two parade grounds and M.T. garages

In 1960 1 Worcestershire Regiment returned from the West Indies to Norton Barracks and on 16th July, 1960, General Sir Richard Gale, G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., Colonel of The Regiment, presented new colours to them on the Green. The Battalion remained based in Norton Barracks until they moved to Germany in 1962.

In early 1969, 14 Signal Regiment moved into Norton Barracks and remained until they disappeared under defence cuts in January 1977.

On 28th February, 1970, on the amalgamation of the Worcestershire Regiment with the Sherwood Foresters, the name of the R.H.Q. was changed to R.H.Q. The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.

The R.H.Q. remained in its location, as the sole occupants of the old Barracks until 14th June, 1978, when it moved to Building 97, a brick block building on the extremity of the Western side of the new camp.

In the 1990's the the whole site was sold off by the M.O.D. to property developers. The area immediately to the west of the old "Farrington" and "Charlemont" blocks were developed by Wainhomes as an estate of some 46 detached houses, while Persimmon Homes built a further 60 houses.

The Worcestershire Norton Sports Club now own and are retaining the cricket ground, football pitch and ranges, plus the old Depot Sergeants Mess, which is used as a Club house.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Worcestershire Regiment, I can recomend the following link.