Shackleton Barracks
| Shackleton Barracks | |
|---|---|
| Ballykelly | |
  Shackleton Barracks Location within Northern Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 55°03′16″N 07°01′12″W / 55.05444°N 7.02000°WCoordinates: 55°03′16″N 07°01′12″W / 55.05444°N 7.02000°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |
 British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1971 |
| In use | 1971-2008 |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment |
Shackleton Barracks is a former military installation at Ballykelly in Northern Ireland.
History
The site formerly known as RAF Ballykelly was handed over to the British Army as Shackleton Barracks on 2 June 1971.[1] Battalion HQ and HQ Company of the 5th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment arrived there shortly after the barracks opened. The village of Ballykelly suffered badly in 1982 with the Droppin Well bombing which resulted in the loss of eighteen lives including both local civilians and soldiers from Shackleton Barracks. 5th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment moved out in 1992.[1]
The camp became the HQ of 8th Infantry Brigade in October 2003 and the brigade remained there until it was disbanded and responsibility handed over to HQ 39th Infantry Brigade at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn on 1 September 2006. It was then home to an infantry battalion - 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.[1]
The British Army vacated Shackleton Barracks in March 2008[2] when 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment moved to Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich. Some 776 acres (3.14 km2) of land and 420 buildings were offered for sale by the Ministry of Defence at that time. The Welbeck Estate offered to buy the entire site but instead the MOD passed to it the Northern Ireland Assembly. However in March 2009 the former Walworth Estate officers married quarter housing was sold to The Welbeck Estate Group/Squadron Investments and The Foyle estate to a local investment company.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 "Shackleton Barracks Ballykelly to Close". Sandes (26 June 2006). Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ↑ "Options for Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly, explored". BBC. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ↑ "Former army houses go on sale". Derry Journal. 23 October 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2014.