Wolseley Barracks

London, Ontario
Type
Other

Wolseley Barracks was built in 1886-88 and was home to the Infantry School Corps. It was designed by Henry James, the first Chief Engineer of the Department of Militia and Defence. The building was renamed Wolseley Hall in 1899 and designated a national historic site in 1963.

In 1901, the Corps was renamed to the Royal Canadian Regiment and its headquarters moved here in 1923. The building was used for recruiting, training and demobilization during the First and Second World Wars. The regiment returned to the barracks in 1953.

Wolseley Barracks is one of the best examples of a structure associated with the theme of the federal government initiatives in the 19th century to create a permanent military force within Canada. "A" Block is an outstanding example of military architecture in Canada. It is a large structure, U-shaped in plan, which consists of three wings arranged around a courtyard. 

The building is now the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum.

Inscription

[plaque]

ERECTED by
the GOVERNMENT
of CANADA

WOLSELEY BARRACKS
INFANTRY SCHOOL
BUILDING

THIS BUILDING, TYPICAL OF MILITARY
ARCHITECTURE OF ITS PERIOD, WAS
BUILT IN 1886 TO PROVIDE QUARTERS
FOR THE RECENTLY AUTHORIZED “D”
COMPANY, INFANTRY SCHOOL CORPS, AN
EARLY STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE PERMANENT FORCES OF CANADA. IN
1901, AFTER THREE CHANGES, THE CORPS
WAS RENAMED THE ROYAL CANADIAN
REGIMENT. REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS
MOVED HERE IN 1923.

DURING THE YEARS 1914-18 AND
1939-45 WHILE THE REGIMENT WAS
ON ACTIVE SERVICE THE BUILDING
WAS USED FOR RECRUITING, TRAINING
AND DEMOBILIZATION. THE REGIMENT
RETURNED TO THE BARRACKS IN 1953.

HISTORIC SITES AND MONUMENTS
BOARD OF CANADA

[plaque]

PLAQUE APPOSÉE par
le GOUVERNEMENT
du CANADA

CASERNE WOLSELEY
DE L’ÉCOLE
D’INFANTERIE

ON ÉRIGEA EN 1886 CETTE CASERNE,
CARACTÉRISTIQUE DE L’ARCHITECTURE
MILITAIRE DE L’ÉPOQUE, POUR SERVIR
DE QUARTIER À LA COMPAGNIE ‘’D’’ DU
CORPS-ÉCOLE D’INFANTERIE. CETTE
FORMATION, QU’ON VENAIT D’AUTORISER,
CONSTITUAIT L’UNE DES PREMIÈRES
ÉTAPES DE L’ÉTABLISSEMENT DES FORCES
PERMANENTES AU CANADA. À COMPTER
DE 1901, LE CORPS FUT APPELÉ ‘’ THE
ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT’’. EN 1923,
LE QUARTIER-GÉNÉRAL DU RÉGIMENT
S’Y INSTALLA.

PENDANT LES DEUX GRANDES GUERRES

LE RÉGIMENT, MOBILISÉ EN ACTIVITÉ
DE SERVICE, CE BÂTIMENT SERVIT AU
RECRUTEMENT, À L’ENTRAÎNEMENT, PUIS
À LA DÉMOBILISATION. LE RÉGIMENT
Y RENTRA EN 1953.

COMMISSION DES LIEUX ET
MONUMENTS HISTORIQUES DU CANADA

Location
Wolseley Barracks

753 Elizabeth Street
London
Ontario
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 43.0001267
Long. -81.234283

Wolseley Barracks

Richard Turcotte
1 of 6 images

English plaque

Richard Turcotte
1 of 6 images

French plaque

Richard Turcotte
1 of 6 images

original cornerstone

Richard Turcotte
1 of 6 images

original cornerstone and 100th Anniversary plaque

Richard Turcotte
1 of 6 images

100th Anniversary plaque

Richard Turcotte
1 of 6 images
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