# Swinton Barracks
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{{short description|Military installation at Tidworth in Wiltshire, England}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military structure
| name = Swinton Barracks
| partof = Tidworth, Netheravon and Bulford Garrison
| image = Swinton Barracks Perham Down MOD 45151538.jpg
| caption = Swinton Barracks
| type = Army barracks
| site_area = {{convert|130|ha|acres}}[{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-estates-development-plan-dedp-2009|title=Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A|date=3 July 2009|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence|page=A41|access-date=22 November 2024}}]
| map_type = Wiltshire
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Wiltshire
| location = [Perham Down](/source/Perham_Down), [Wiltshire](/source/Wiltshire)
| country = England
| coordinates = {{Coord|51.239|N|1.632|W|region:GB-WIL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| ownership = [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom))
| operator = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| built = 1915
| used = 1915 – present
| architect =
| built_for = [War Office](/source/War_Office)
| garrison =
| occupants = [1 Signal Regiment](/source/1st_Signal_Regiment_(United_Kingdom))
[15 Signal Regiment](/source/15_Signal_Regiment_(United_Kingdom))
[22 Engineer Regiment](/source/22_Engineer_Regiment_(United_Kingdom))
[26 Engineer Regiment](/source/26_Engineer_Regiment_(United_Kingdom))
}}
'''Swinton Barracks''' is a military installation accommodating two engineer regiments and two signals regiments at [Perham Down](/source/Perham_Down) in Wiltshire, England. The site is on the east edge of [Salisbury Plain](/source/Salisbury_Plain), about {{Convert|1+1/2|mi|km|abbr=}} east of the garrison at [Tidworth](/source/Tidworth_Camp). The camp forms part of the Tidworth, Netheravon and Bulford (TidNBul) Garrison.[{{Cite web|url=https://aspiredefence.co.uk/garrison-commander-assists-with-construction-of-new-officers-mess/|title=Garrison Commander assists with construction of new Officers' Mess|date=20 December 2017|website=Aspire Defence Limited|access-date=26 March 2021}}][{{Cite web|last=Hartle |first=Lisa |date=7 December 2020|title=Royal Signals Celebrates Centenary By Planting 100 Trees|url=https://www.forces.net/news/royal-signals-celebrates-centenary-planting-100-trees|access-date=31 August 2021|website=Forces Network|language=en}}]
==History==
After [2nd London Division](/source/2nd_London_Division) held their annual camp at Perham Down in 1914,[{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D21-AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT504|title=British Battalions in France and Belgium, 1914|first= Ray|last= Westlake|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=1997|isbn=978-0850525779}}] a hutted army camp was built in the village to provide proper accommodation for the training of large military units.[{{cite web|title=Tidworth|url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Community/Index/223|website=Wiltshire Community History|publisher=Wiltshire Council|access-date=22 May 2020}}]
During the Second World War the barracks were used as a training camp by the [99th Infantry Battalion](/source/99th_Infantry_Battalion_(United_States)) of the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army).[{{cite web|url=https://www.mnmilitarymuseum.org/files/5613/2261/5287/99th_Infantry_Battalion_Sep.pdf|title=Norwegian-Americans and the 99th Infantry Battalion|page=2|publisher=Military Historical Society of Minnesota|access-date=22 May 2020}}]
The barracks were rebuilt between 1972 and 1974 and renamed Swinton Barracks at that time.[{{cite web|title=Barracks|url=https://tidworthtowncouncil.gov.uk/about-tidworth/barracks/|website=Tidworth Town Council|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=22 May 2020}}][{{cite web|title=Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 15 pp153-163 – Parishes: North Tidworth|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol15/pp153-163|author-last1=Baggs|author-first1=A.P.|year=1995|editor-last=Crowley|editor-first=D.A.|website=British History Online|publisher=University of London|access-date=22 May 2020|author-first2=Jane|author-last2=Freeman|author-first3=Janet H|author-last3=Stevenson}}] [22 Engineer Regiment](/source/22_Engineer_Regiment_(United_Kingdom)) arrived at the barracks in January 1975[{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-engineers/regiments---major-units/22-regiment.html|title=22 Engineer Regiment|publisher=British Army Units 1945 On|access-date=22 May 2020}}][{{Cite web|title=22 Engineer Regiment|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/22-engineer-regiment/|website=British Army|language=en-GB|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 May 2020}}] and were later joined by [26 Engineer Regiment](/source/26_Engineer_Regiment_(United_Kingdom)).[{{Cite web|title=26 Engineer Regiment|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/26-engineer-regiment/|website=British Army|language=en-GB|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 May 2020}}] The barracks became a specialist centre for armoured engineering, and its name was chosen to commemorate Major-General [Sir Ernest Swinton](/source/Ernest_Swinton), who was an early advocate of armoured vehicles and responsible for the recruitment and training of the Tank Detachment in 1916, and, later, Colonel Commandant of the [Tank Corps](/source/Royal_Tank_Regiment).[{{cite web|url=https://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/swinton.htm|title=Who's Who – Sir Ernest Swinton|publisher=First World War|access-date=4 October 2020}}]
Extensive reconstruction at the barracks involving new or refurbished buildings was carried out under [Project Allenby Connaught](/source/Project_Allenby_Connaught) between 2006 and 2014.[{{cite web|url=https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/documents/s156489/Army%20Rebasing%20update.pdf|title=Army Basing Programme Update|publisher=Wiltshire Council|access-date=22 May 2020}}]
==Units==
The units currently based at the barracks are:[{{cite web|url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616|title=Order of Battle, Manpower, and Basing Locations|access-date=20 November 2020}}]
*[1st Signal Regiment](/source/1st_Signal_Regiment_(United_Kingdom))
*[15th Signal Regiment](/source/15_Signal_Regiment_(United_Kingdom)), [Royal Corps of Signals](/source/Royal_Corps_of_Signals)