page_title: Hyde Park Barracks, London
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Hyde Park Barracks, London / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Knightsbridge Barracks c1959
context_page_description: The Hyde Park Barracks are in Knightsbridge in central London, on the southern edge of Hyde Park. They were often known as Knightsbridge Barracks and this name is still sometimes used informally. The barracks are ³⁄₄ mile from Buckingham Palace, enabling the officers and soldiers of the Household Cavalry to be available to respond speedily to any emergency at the Palace, practise drills at Horse Guards Parade beyond or conduct more ceremonial duties.
context_section_description: Its first buildings were constructed for the Horse Guards in 1795, and a riding school and stables designed by Philip Hardwick were added in 1857. These were replaced with new ones designed by Thomas Henry Wyatt on which construction started in 1878 and was completed in May 1880.
  These were in turn demolished to make way for modernist buildings by Sir Basil Spence, and completed in 1970. It was built to accommodate 23 officers, 60 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, 431 rank and file, and 273 horses. The most prominent feature is a 33-storey, 94-metre (308 ft) residential tower, which is one of the two most prominent modern buildings as seen from Hyde Park along with the London Hilton on Park Lane. It was built by Sir Robert McAlpine between 1967 and 1970.
  The barracks are the base for the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which is horsed and carries out mounted (and some dismounted) ceremonial duties on state and royal occasions in London. These duties include the provision of a Sovereign's Escort, most commonly seen at the present Queen's Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) in June each year. Other occasions include important ceremonies that take place during state visits by visiting heads of state, or whenever required by the British monarch. The regiment also mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards, which consists of one squadron from each regiment.
caption: Knightsbridge Barracks in 1959
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