Chetwynd Barracks

Chetwynd Barracks
Chilwell
Chetwynd Barracks
Chetwynd Barracks Location within Nottinghamshire
Coordinates	52°54′34″N 01°15′23″W
Type	Barracks
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	British Army
Site history
Built	1919
Built for	War Office
In use	1919–present
Garrison information
Occupants	Royal Engineers Works Groups EOD Troop HMS Sherwood

Chetwynd Barracks is a British Army installation at Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, England. HMS Sherwood, a Royal Naval Reserve stone frigate, is located within the barracks. The site will close in 2026.

History

COD Chilwell in 1940

British Army

The Chilwell depot and barracks were built for the Royal Army Ordnance Corps shortly after the First World War on the former site of the National Shell Filling Factory, Chilwell which had been completely devastated by an explosion in July 1918.[1] The site continued to be used as a central ordnance depot after the Second World War[2] and, although the central vehicle kit store closed in 1958,[3] when operations moved to Bicester,[4] it continued to operate as a general stores depot and a vehicle workshop.[5]

The site was renamed Chetwynd Barracks, after Viscount Chetwynd who had been Managing Director of the National Shell Filling Factory, in 1995[5] and became the home of 49 (East) Brigade.[6]

Under Army 2020, 49 (East) Brigade was merged with 7th Armoured Brigade to become 7th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters East, which relocated to Chetwynd Barracks on 13 February 2015.[7]

Under Future Soldier, the 7th Infantry Brigade became the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team, and Headquarters East was amalgamated with Headquarters West Midlands, to form Headquarters Centre.[8]

HMS Sherwood

Main article: HMS Sherwood (shore establishment)

Chetwynd Barracks

HMS Sherwood relocated to Foresters House, Chilwell (part of Chetwynd Barracks) in 2014.[9][10] HMS Sherwood, which is located more than 50 miles (80 km) from the coast; is the only RNR establishment in the East Midlands.[10][11]

Future

In late March 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that the site was to be sold in order to reduce the size of the Defence Estate.[12] In November 2016, the MoD announced that the site would close in 2021.[13] This was subsequently extended to 2024,[14] and once more to 2026.[15]

The Army Reserve Centre, Foresters House, will be retained after closure of the barracks.[16]

Current units

Units stationed at Chetwynd Barracks include:[16]

• 43 Headquarters and Support Squadron Royal Engineers (RE)
• 62 Works Group RE
• 63 Works Group RE
• 65 Works Group RE (Reserve)
• 66 Works Group RE
• Nottinghamshire Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers[17]
• Nottingham Troop, 721 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron, RLC[18]
• HMS Sherwood, Royal Naval Reserve.
  • Nottingham Detachment, Royal Marines Reserve Merseyside[19]

See also

• Chilwell Filling Factory Memorial

References

1. "Chilwell Depot". Picture the past. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
2. "Army Life". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
3. "Ordnance Depots Named". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
4. "Bicester Military Railway". Bicester Local History Society. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
5. "Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 5 March 1996. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
6. "49 (East) Brigade". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
7. "49 (East) Brigade Officially Disbanded". Forces TV. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
8. "Future Soldier Guide" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 48. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
9. Pritchard, Jon (24 March 2016). "Chetwynd Barracks facing closure under Government defence review". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
10. "HMS Sherwood – Nottingham". Royal Navy. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
11. "HMS Sherwood 'Freedom of the City of Nottingham' Parade". West Bridgford Wire. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
12. "Thousands of new homes to be built as MOD releases more sites". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
13. "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
14. "Will your base be staying open?". Forces.net. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
15. "Disposal database: House of Commons report". Retrieved 26 November 2021.
16. "20241209 FOI24068 Zacchi Response Letter ArmyPolSec.pdf". www.whatdotheyknow.com. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
17. "Army Reserve Bands". mod.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
18. "Armed Forces in Notts". Nottingham Post. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
19. "RMR Merseyside | Royal Marines". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2024.