Wyvern Barracks

Wyvern Barracks
Exeter
Wyvern Barracks in Topsham Road
Wyvern Barracks Location within Devon
Coordinates	50°42′41″N 03°30′41″W / 50.71139°N 3.51139°WCoordinates: 50°42′41″N 03°30′41″W / 50.71139°N 3.51139°W
Type	Barracks
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	British Army
Site history
Built	1800
Built for	War Office
In use	1800-Present
Garrison information
Occupants	6th Battalion, The Rifles

Wyvern Barracks is a military installation on Topsham Road in Exeter.

History

The site was established as an artillery barracks for the Board of Ordnance under the name of Topsham Barracks around 1800.^[1] During the First World War a reserve brigade of the Royal Field Artillery was based there^[2] and during the Second World War units of the United States Army were based there.^[3] After becoming home to the Devonshire Regiment and then, from 1958, home to the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment,^[4] the barracks became known as Wyvern Barracks and went on to become the regional centre for infantry training as the Wessex Brigade Depot in 1960.^[5] It is currently home to Battalion HQ, HQ Company and an Assault Pioneer Platoon of 6th Battalion, The Rifles and Exeter UOTC,^[6] as well as B Detachment of 243 Field Hospital and 72 Military Intelligence Company Detachment of 7 Military Intelligence Battalion.^[7]

References

1. "Guard House and attached wall Wyvern Barracks". English Heritage. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
2. "The Royal Artillery depots, training units and home defences". Retrieved 10 April 2014.
3. "Black American GIs arrive in Exeter". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
4. "Amalgamation 1958". Retrieved 10 April 2014.
5. "Infantry Brigade Depots (Location)". Hansard. 7 March 1958. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
6. "6th Battalion The Rifles". The Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
7. "Local Army Directory". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 July 2015.