Inkerman Barracks A Demolition Too Far!

A Memory of Knaphill.

The photo shows the remaining houses on Barrack Road; another survivor being Wellington Terrace in adjacent Raglan Road. Local opposition to the demolition of this historic site was ignored and the wrecking ball was sent to work and I for one was deeply saddened. There was probably never much hope for the original massive buildings although it had been hoped that the great clock tower might be saved as it was a local landmark but what should never have happened was the demolition of all the other houses in Barack Road. Opposite the houses in the picture were similar but semi-detatched properties and on the same side of the road facing the playing fields were a series of large detached houses; again in the same style but exceptionally fine residences - presumably reserved for the officers. The gardens were quite large and always well maintained - as one might expect from the military top brass. At the end of the road could be found the Sergeants Mess. In itself an impressive building and again in the same unique style as the houses and the scene of many social occasions!
Of course it was not only the buildings which disappeared but also thousands of acres of natural woodland, with attendant wildlife including the beautiful red squirrel. Not all the new development was unwelcome; the Sir Winston Churchill School was a terrific boon to the area but subsiquent over development has probably been a mistake when considering what might have been achieved with the original historic buildings.
Incidentally, does anyone remember The White House in Inkerman Road? I remember this being occupied by a Major and his wife and it had a large Monkey Puzzle tree in the garden. Before the new houses were built, Inkerman Road was just a quiet unmade lane with woodland stretching as far as Brookwood Hospital!

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