Solo explore.
I was looking for places to try and decided on going down to the old Cambridge Military Hospital site, I never got to do the hospital before it was converted but i had a few buildings on my map that I thought i would investigate.
Arriving on the site I wandered the footpath and found a chain link fence separating me from my goal. Wandering the fence line I found a gap big enough for me to squeeze under. The first huge building I came across was sealed and I have no idea what its use was, further along were what looked like a few wood sheds that all appeared to be connected. Eventually I found a gap that i could just about squeeze through and entered. Linked by peeling corridors and dodgy floors were a series of accommodation rooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. It’s taken me the best part of 6 hours to find enough information about this ”unit” to be confident enough that the information I have is correct and that it was an old spider type accommodation block and part of the Mendora Officers Mess area of the barracks.
On my way back out to take external shots I almost walked into a security guard so I had to leave the other way and miss out taking the shots. I spent ten minutes hiding in a bush with him below me before he moved on so I could continue to the fence. No more than 30 seconds after slipping back under the fence I spotted the secca walking the fence line and ended up hiding for another five minutes. Thankfully he didn’t see me but was certainly looking, i didn’t see any cameras so not sure how he knew someone was on site.
History -
Spider Barrack Block
Aldershot Garrison is a major garrison in South East England, between Aldershot and Farnborough in Hampshire. The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near the village of Aldershot, with the objective of establishing a permanent training camp for the Army. Over time, this camp grew into a military town and continues to be used by the Army to the present day. It is home to the headquarters of the Army's Regional Command and Home Command, and it is also the headquarters for the Army Special Operations Brigade. The garrison plays host to around 70 military units and organisations.
Established in 1854, Aldershot has long been seen as the home of the British Army. The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near to the village of Aldershot, with the objective of establishing a permanent training camp for the British Army. Over time, this camp grew into a military town and continues to be used by the Army to the present day.
It was originally only envisaged to set up a tented camp for summer use; however, following the outbreak of the Crimean War, it was necessary to accommodate a large number of troops, over a longer period of time and so two hutted camps, one north and one south of the Basingstoke Canal, were constructed. Between 1854 and 1859, around 1,200 wooden huts were constructed by a local civilian contractor, at a cost of £100,263.
Following Aldershot's establishment as a large permanent training camp in the 1850s, the military presence continued to grow. The garrison was divided into the North Camp and the South Camp, either side of the Basingstoke Canal. As more soldiers arrived, they were first housed in bell tents due to a shortage or permanent accommodation. Later, wooden huts were built, which were in turn replaced by brick built barracks in the 1890s. Much of the Victorian camp was demolished in the 1960s.
South Camp
The area known as South Camp was rebuilt at much the same time as North Camp. Construction was completed by the same local company responsible for Marlborough Lines. This phase of construction saw nine barracks built, namely: Albuhera, Barossa, Corunna, Gibraltar, Maida, Buller, Mandora and McGrigor barracks. This group of barracks became known as Stanhope Lines. Many of these brick-build Victorian barracks were demolished in the late 1960s, to make way for what is now Montgomery Lines. One of the Victorian barracks did survive. Montgomery Lines was completed in the 1970s and was built on the site of several barracks that formerly made up Stanhope Lines. Much of South Camp has now been redeveloped as part of the Aldershot Urban Extension.
Mendora officers mess area -
RAMC officers' accommodation. The junior ranks accommodation was at the rear with each sex separated by the mortuary and chapel of rest! The male accommodation for junior ranks was of particular note being the pre-war spiders' type barrack block. QARANC officers had their own mess and accommodation at the front of the hospital
I was looking for places to try and decided on going down to the old Cambridge Military Hospital site, I never got to do the hospital before it was converted but i had a few buildings on my map that I thought i would investigate.
Arriving on the site I wandered the footpath and found a chain link fence separating me from my goal. Wandering the fence line I found a gap big enough for me to squeeze under. The first huge building I came across was sealed and I have no idea what its use was, further along were what looked like a few wood sheds that all appeared to be connected. Eventually I found a gap that i could just about squeeze through and entered. Linked by peeling corridors and dodgy floors were a series of accommodation rooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. It’s taken me the best part of 6 hours to find enough information about this ”unit” to be confident enough that the information I have is correct and that it was an old spider type accommodation block and part of the Mendora Officers Mess area of the barracks.
On my way back out to take external shots I almost walked into a security guard so I had to leave the other way and miss out taking the shots. I spent ten minutes hiding in a bush with him below me before he moved on so I could continue to the fence. No more than 30 seconds after slipping back under the fence I spotted the secca walking the fence line and ended up hiding for another five minutes. Thankfully he didn’t see me but was certainly looking, i didn’t see any cameras so not sure how he knew someone was on site.
History -
Spider Barrack Block
Aldershot Garrison is a major garrison in South East England, between Aldershot and Farnborough in Hampshire. The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near the village of Aldershot, with the objective of establishing a permanent training camp for the Army. Over time, this camp grew into a military town and continues to be used by the Army to the present day. It is home to the headquarters of the Army's Regional Command and Home Command, and it is also the headquarters for the Army Special Operations Brigade. The garrison plays host to around 70 military units and organisations.
Established in 1854, Aldershot has long been seen as the home of the British Army. The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near to the village of Aldershot, with the objective of establishing a permanent training camp for the British Army. Over time, this camp grew into a military town and continues to be used by the Army to the present day.
It was originally only envisaged to set up a tented camp for summer use; however, following the outbreak of the Crimean War, it was necessary to accommodate a large number of troops, over a longer period of time and so two hutted camps, one north and one south of the Basingstoke Canal, were constructed. Between 1854 and 1859, around 1,200 wooden huts were constructed by a local civilian contractor, at a cost of £100,263.
Following Aldershot's establishment as a large permanent training camp in the 1850s, the military presence continued to grow. The garrison was divided into the North Camp and the South Camp, either side of the Basingstoke Canal. As more soldiers arrived, they were first housed in bell tents due to a shortage or permanent accommodation. Later, wooden huts were built, which were in turn replaced by brick built barracks in the 1890s. Much of the Victorian camp was demolished in the 1960s.
South Camp
The area known as South Camp was rebuilt at much the same time as North Camp. Construction was completed by the same local company responsible for Marlborough Lines. This phase of construction saw nine barracks built, namely: Albuhera, Barossa, Corunna, Gibraltar, Maida, Buller, Mandora and McGrigor barracks. This group of barracks became known as Stanhope Lines. Many of these brick-build Victorian barracks were demolished in the late 1960s, to make way for what is now Montgomery Lines. One of the Victorian barracks did survive. Montgomery Lines was completed in the 1970s and was built on the site of several barracks that formerly made up Stanhope Lines. Much of South Camp has now been redeveloped as part of the Aldershot Urban Extension.
Mendora officers mess area -
RAMC officers' accommodation. The junior ranks accommodation was at the rear with each sex separated by the mortuary and chapel of rest! The male accommodation for junior ranks was of particular note being the pre-war spiders' type barrack block. QARANC officers had their own mess and accommodation at the front of the hospital
