Bordon and Longmoor Military Camps Training Camp |
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Bordon | |
Modern brick barracks at Longmoor
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Location within Hampshire
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Coordinates | 51°4′23″N 0°52′8″W / 51.07306°N 0.86889°WCoordinates: 51°4′23″N 0°52′8″W / 51.07306°N 0.86889°W |
Type | Barracks |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | British Army |
Site history | |
Built | 1863 |
Built for | War Office |
In use | 1863-2015 |
Bordon and Longmoor Military Camps are British Army training camps and training area close to the A3 and A325 roads in and around the settlements of Bordon, Longmoor, Liss and Liphook in Hampshire, England. The main street of the Longmoor part of the camp is built on an ancient Roman road, the Chichester to Silchester Way, while the village of Greatham lies to the west.
In 1863, the War Department had required additional training grounds for British Army troops. They purchased tracts of land totalling 781 acres (316 ha) from Her Majesty's Woods, Forests and Lands at Hogmoor Inclosure and Longmoor on the Surrey/Hampshire borders. However, the Army's main barracks were at Aldershot Garrison, requiring a 20 miles (32 km) march or expensive railway journey to access the new training grounds. This distance also necessitated an overnight stay, most often accomplished by pitching tents east of the A325 road.
The decision was hence made to build two permanent camps close to Woolmer Forest. The proposal was to construct 140 wooden huts on each site, each 72 feet (22 m) long and 21 feet (6.4 m) wide, giving a combined accommodation for 5,000 men.
The first was laid out in 1899 by the Highland Light Infantry, under the command of the Royal Engineers. This became Bordon Camp, and area of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) long by .5 miles (0.80 km) wide.