{{Short description|Military installation in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military structure | name = Dale Barracks | image = | caption = | type = Barracks | map_type = Cheshire | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Cheshire | location = Chester | coordinates = {{Coord|53|13|31|N|02|53|42|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | ownership = Ministry of Defence | operator = {{army|United Kingdom}} | built = 1939 | used = 1939–1956<br>1987–Present | architect = | built_for = | garrison = | occupants = }} '''Dale Barracks''' is a British Army base at Moston near Chester, England. It is home to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment.

==History== The barracks are situated in the grounds of Moston Hall, a house built in 1789 for Richard Massey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/6866|title=Moston Hall|publisher=Parks and Gardens|accessdate=24 May 2014|archive-date=25 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232147/http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/6866|url-status=dead}}</ref> The house was acquired by the Swetenham family who sold it to the Lockett family in 1918.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofuptonbychester.org.uk/wip17.htm|title=Moston Hall|publisher=History of Upton by Chester|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref> During the First World War, the house was used as a military hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C11291733|title=Chapel of the Military Hospital (Moston Hall)|publisher=National Archives|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chester.ac.uk/hsc/riverside-museum|title=Faculty of Health and Social Care Riverside Museum|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref>

The rest of the site was occupied by a house known as The Dale which was built in the 1880s and was bought by the War Office in 1938.<ref name=history/> The Dale became the depot of the Cheshire Regiment who arrived from Chester Castle in 1939.<ref name=chapter8>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofuptonbychester.org.uk/Chapter%208.pdf|title=Military & Wartime Activities during the 20th Century|publisher=History of Upton by Chester|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref>

During the Second World War, the Machine Gun Training Centre was established here. After the war, it became a Primary Training Centre for the Infantry.<ref name="chapter8" />

Between 1956 and 1987, it was part of Western Command and home to 165 Western Command Provost Company (RMP);<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rhqrmp.org/rmp_pdfs/newsletters/newsletter_165.pdf|title=ROYAL MILITARY POLICE OLD COMRADES LINK UP NEWSLETTER #165 MARCH 2021|website=rhqrmp.org|accessdate=16 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-military-police/provost-companies-101-to-169.html|title=Royal Military Police: Provost Companies 101 to 169|website=british-army-units1945on.co.uk|access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> part of the Dale was also used for civilian purposes as a secure asylum before it was returned to military use as the officer's mess for the barracks of the 1st Battalion the King's Regiment.<ref name="chapter8" />

The 1st Battalion Royal Welsh moved out of the barracks in April 2014,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/2nd-battalion-mercian-regiment-due-6922049 |title=Royal Welsh bids farewell to Dale Camp |work= Chester Chronicle |date=4 April 2014 |access-date= 24 May 2014}}</ref> and the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment arrived in July 2014.<ref>{{cite web |work= Chester Chronicle |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title= Dale Barracks Chester welcomes 2 Mercian Regiment |url= https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/dale-barracks-chester-welcomes-2-7632760 |date=18 August 2014 |access-date= 8 January 2015}}</ref> The 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment then left in Summer 2018 and was replaced by 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, which arrived in November 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/how-army-moved-entire-battalion-15471016|title=How the Army moved an entire battalion from Cyprus to Chester|date=28 November 2018|publisher=Cheshire Live|accessdate=5 January 2019}}</ref> The 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment left the barracks in August 2022, moving to Episkopi. They will be based at Weeton Barracks on their return to the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-22 |title=Battalion leaves Dale Barracks in Chester for new post in Cyprus |url=https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/20682019.battalion-leaves-dale-barracks-chester-new-post-cyprus/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Chester and District Standard |language=en}}</ref>

After returning from Episkopi, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment was based here at Dale Barracks from summer 2022<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=2 YORKS |url=https://www.royalyorkshireregiment.com/2-yorks/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Royal Yorkshire Regiment |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Phil |date=2022-03-31 |title=An update from Your County Regiment |url=https://theyorkshiresociety.org/an-update-from-your-county-regiment/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Yorkshire Society |language=en-GB}}</ref> until summer 2024, when it moved to Battlesbury Barracks in Warminster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theyorkshiresociety.org/an-update-from-your-county-regiment/|title=An update from Your County Regiment|publisher=The Yorkshire Society|access-date=12 October 2025}}</ref>

In July 2024, 22 Multi-Role Medical Regiment moved from Keogh Barracks to Dale Barracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://friendsofmillbank.org/downloads/22-MMR-20241120.pdf|title=A History of 22 Multi-Role Medical Regiment|first=Colonel David |last=Vassallo|publisher=Friends of Millbank|date=17 November 2024|access-date=12 October 2025}}</ref>

== Future == In November 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that the site would close in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565858/20161107_MOD_Better_Defence_Estate_FINAL.pdf|title=A Better Defence Estate|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=November 2016 |accessdate=8 November 2016}}</ref> This was later extended to 2030.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6710d9889cd657734653d6d6/DEO_Disposal_Timeline_2024.pdf|title=Defence Disposal Timeline|accessdate=25 July 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Barracks in England Category:Installations of the British Army Category:Military installations established in 1939