Catterick Garrison

Catterick Garrison is a major garrison and town located 3 miles south of Richmond in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world with a population of around 13,000 and measuring over 2,400 acres, however under plans announced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in November 2005, the population of Catterick Garrison is expected to grow to over 25,000 by 2020, making it the largest population centre in the local area.

History
The siting of the garrison was first recommended by Robert Baden-Powell who founded the Scouting movement in 1908 whilst he was based at the army barracks&mdash;at that time located in Richmond Castle. On 12 August 1914, the order was issued for the construction of the camp, following the outbreak of the First World War. The originally intention for Catterick was to be a temporary camp to accommodate two complete divisions with around 40,000 men in 2,000 huts. The base was originally named Richmond Camp until being changed to Catterick Camp in 1915, later modified to Catterick Garrison. After serving as a prisoner of war camp at the end of the First World War, the idea to make Catterick a permanent military barracks was first suggested after the partitioning of Ireland in 1921, the required land was purchased and building plans were put forward in 1923 and by the mid 1930s most of the camp's facilities were complete, during the Second World War the camp was once again used to house prisoners of war.

Governance
The town lies within the Richmond (Yorks) parliamentary constituency, which has been represented since 1989 by Conservative William Hague. It also lies within the Central Richmondshire electoral division of North Yorkshire County Council and its boundaries lie in both the Hipswell and Scotton wards of Richmondshire District Council.

Geography
Catterick Garrison is located on the A6136 road, connecting Richmond with the A1 road at Catterick Village, 4.7 mi to the east. Nearby settlements to Catterick Garrison include the suburban settlements of Scotton 1.6 mi south and Hipswell 0.7 mi to the east, as well as Colburn, 1.9 mi to the east.

Transport
The Garrison is without a railway station, Catterick Camp railway station served as a terminus station on the Eryholme-Richmond branch line until its closure in 1964, the closest mainline railway stations are now found at Northallerton and Darlington, both are equidistant, at 15.9 mi south-east and north-east respectively. Regular bus services to Richmond and Darlington are operated by Arriva North East, the closest airport is Durham Tees Valley Airport, 21.3 mi north-east.

Community and culture
Lacking a true "town centre," the Garrison gained its first large supermarket, a Tesco store, in 2000; along with a retail park known as "Richmondshire Walk", which also includes a McDonalds and a Poundstretcher, among others. "Catterick Leisure Centre" is a purpose built complex opposite the retail park, opened in July 2009, it offers a broad spectrum of leisure and fitness facilities including a swimming pool, and a gym, as well as an adjoining public library. Catterick Garrison was once home to one Yorkshire's largest cinemas, the "Ritz Cinema" was opened on 21 December 1940 and had over 1000 seats, it was closed on 2 July 1977 after declining usage, today, the site is used as a health and beauty salon. Duchess of Kent Hospital is the local military hospital and medical centre that was opened on 6 October 1976. It was a replacement to the old hospital that was in existence before the Second World War. Foxglove Covert, a local nature reserve was the first of its kind in North Yorkshire and the first to be located on Ministry of Defence (MoD) land in the UK. It covers 100 acres of moorland edge, and was opened in 1992, in 2001 it was declared a "Site of Local Nature Conservation Importance (SLNCI)". In 2013 a £25 million development scheme for a new "town centre" was unveiled, to be built on a former sports ground, owned by the MoD. The plan includes space for retail outlets, a cinema, a 60 bedroom hotel and several dining establishments and bars, it is expected to create up to 700 jobs.

Education
Primary education is provided by Carnagill Community Primary School, built in 1966, Wavell School and Le Cateau Community Primary School. It should be noted that there are other nearby schools, not within the garrison area itself such as Colburn Community Primary School and Hipswell Church of England Primary School that are also used by residents. Pupils then receive secondary education at Risedale Sports and Community College. Alternatively, children may also attend school at Richmond School and Sixth Form College. Darlington College also has a campus at Catterick Garrison.

Religion
The two major churches are dedicated to St. Joan of Arc and St. Aidan.

Barracks
The garrison consists of many different groups of buildings spread over a wide area and includes a number of barracks, most of which are named after historical British Army battles, many of which took place in Northern France during the First World War. They include:
 * Waithwith Banks
 * Gaza Barracks
 * Megiddo Lines
 * Cambrai Barracks, home to armoured unit.
 * Bourlon Barracks, home to infantry unit
 * Vimy Barracks, (HQ School of Infantry) named after the Battle of Vimy Ridge
 * Harden Barracks, named for Henry Eric Harden VC
 * Somme Barracks, named after the Battle of the Somme
 * Helles Barracks, named for Cape Helles, Dardanelles, Home of 2ITB
 * Alma Barracks, named after the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War.
 * Duchess of Kent's Barracks
 * Piave Lines
 * Munster Barracks
 * Wathgill Camp (6 miles from the Garrison and operated by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation which also operates and manages the 20000 acre training area and ranges adjacent to the Garrison.
 * Also included in the command of Catterick Garrison is Marne Barracks, located at the site of the former RAF Catterick.

Units based in Catterick

 * 4 Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (204 Signal Squadron).
 * 1st Battalion, Scots Guards (Armoured Infantry).
 * 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) (Light Role).
 * 1st Battalion, The Duke Of Lancaster's Regiment (Mechanised Infantry).
 * The Royal Dragoon Guards (Armoured).
 * The Queen's Royal Lancers.
 * 21 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers.
 * 1st Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
 * 150 Provost Company.
 * CS Medical Squadron.


 * 19 Light Brigade.
 * 40th Regiment Royal Artillery.
 * 19 Combat Service Support Battalion.
 * 150 Provost Company.
 * 24 CS Medical Squadron.


 * 5th Regiment Royal Artillery


 * ITC Catterick:
 * ITC Catterick Support Battalion
 * 1st Infantry Training Battalion
 * 2nd Infantry Training Battalion


 * 150 Provost Company, Royal Military Police (Although a Royal Military Police station owned by the MoD, the North Yorkshire Police are also co-located there).

HQ School of Infantry, Infantry Training Centre
Catterick is the largest of three Infantry Training Centres (ITCs) in the UK. ITC Catterick conducts infantry training combining Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Combat Infantryman's Course. Junior soldiers destined for the infantry continue to receive Phase 1 training at Army Training Regiment at Bassingbourn and at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate. ITC Catterick is the major user of the Warcop Training Area.