{{Short description|Military installation on the Isle of Wight (1798–1960)}} {{for|the barracks in Albany Street in London|Regent's Park Barracks}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military installation |name=Albany Barracks |image=Albany Barracks, Isle of Wight.jpg |caption = Albany Barracks |type = Barracks |map_type = Isle of Wight |pushpin_map_caption = Location within Isle of Wight |location = Newport, Isle of Wight |coordinates = {{Coord|50.712|N|1.307|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |ownership = Ministry of Defence |operator = {{army|United Kingdom}} |built = 1798 |used=1798-1960 |architect = |built_for = War Office |garrison = |occupants =Isle of Wight Rifles }} '''Albany Barracks''' (formerly '''Parkhurst Barracks''') was a military installation on the Isle of Wight.
==History== Construction of the barracks, which were originally named Parkhurst Barracks after the forest where they were located, was completed in September 1798.<ref name=brettell>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/atopographicala00shergoog|title=A topographical and historical guide to the Isle of Wight|year=1840|page=92|first=Thomas |last=Brettell}}</ref> Shortly after completion they were renamed "Albany Barracks" after Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the Forces.<ref name=brettell/> By 1807 they were occupied by the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot preparing for action in the Peninsular War.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/h_29th_Foot_1807to1813|title=A record of the 29th Foot by Colonel Charles Leslie, K. H.|publisher=The Worcestershire Regiment|accessdate=8 November 2014}}</ref> In 1859 the Isle of Wight Rifles was raised as a defence force for the Island and used the barracks as its headquarters and drill hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://isleofwightrifles.org.uk/theearlyyears.php|title=The early years|publisher=The Isle of Wight Rifles|accessdate=8 November 2014}}</ref>
Parkhurst Military Cemetery was set up to serve the barracks. It includes the war graves of 59 Commonwealth service personnel of the First World War and 26 of the Second World War, the latter including one unidentified British Army soldier and two unidentified Merchant Navy seamen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2034603/PARKHURST%20MILITARY%20CEMETERY |title=Parkhurst Military Cemetery|publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|accessdate=2 December 2014}}</ref>
In 1959 the barracks were the location of a ceremony to celebrate the formation of the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.farmersboys.com/Amalgamation/amalgamation_parade.htm|title=Amalgamation Parade|publisher=The Farmer's Boys|accessdate=8 November 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234433/http://history.farmersboys.com/Amalgamation/amalgamation_parade.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The barracks were decommissioned in the early 1960s and the site was redeveloped as Albany Prison at that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/isle-of-wight|title=Isle of Wight Prison information|publisher=Ministry of Justice|accessdate=8 November 2014}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} Category:Installations of the British Army Category:Military installations established in 1798 Category:Military installations closed in 1960 Category:Former barracks in England