Married quarters at the Royal Field Artillery Barracks, Kildare, Co. Kildare
[graphic]
| Contributors: | |
|---|---|
| In collection: | Eason Photographic Collection |
| Format: | Photo |
| Published / Created: |
[between ca. 1906-1922].
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| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Research by our Flickr Commons users established that these were Married Quarters for the Royal Field Artillery in Kildare Barracks, that was renamed Magee Barracks in 1938. The curved porch roof features survive on some of the houses on what is now Magee Terrace in Kildare Town. Women were subject to very stringent inspection and conditions before being allowed to enter married quarters, and subject to close surveillance thereafter. A newspaper article from 1900 described how “Mrs. Tommy herself is watched over with a more than fatherly care by the colonel, adjutant, quartermaster, doctor, and quartermaster-sergeant, to say nothing of a small army of brigade and divisional officials and inspectors”. Additional information about this photograph is available on the National Library of Ireland's Flickr Commons photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/51028336286/ Physical description: 1 negative : glass ; 31 x 25.5 cm or smaller Geographic Coverage: Kildare, County Kildare, Province of Leinster, Ireland. more |
The RFA (Royal Field Artillery?) Barracks in Kildare is the feature of this Eason image, though it looks like a drab and unusual terrace of houses. What were these houses? Were they billets for the troops, or married quarters?
+++ UPDATE +++
These were Married Quarters for the Royal Field Artillery in the barracks in Kildare, that went on to be called Magee Barracks from 1938. The odd curvy roof features have survived on some of the houses on what is now Magee Terrace in Kildare Town. John Spooner unearthed some frankly terrifying articles about ‘clean, cosy, and compact’ married quarters, from a woman’s perspective – this one from February 1900...
Photographer: Unknown
Collection: Eason Photographic Collection
Date: between 1900-1939 1906-1922
NLI Ref: EAS_2570
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
Tags:
Eason, Eason & Son, Eason Collection, Eason Photographic Collection, Glass Negative, 20th Century, National Library of Ireland, RFA Barracks, Royal Field Artillery, Kildare, County Kildare, Married Quarters, billets, Leinster, Ireland, Magee Terrace, Magee Barracks
Comments
John Spooner
Above each door MQ No. 14, 16 etc presumably Married Quarters.
Posted: 12.03.2021
John Spooner
"Two foreigners found sketching outside the Royal Field Artillery Barracks have been arrested at Kildare and are still in custody"
(Belfast Telegraph - Monday 10 August 1914). Not the only people to be arrested that week for 'acting suspiciously with an odd accent'.
Posted: 12.03.2021
Niall McAuley
One of the few bits of the barracks still standing: Magee Terrace on Streetview
The NIAH lets us down today, no dates.
Posted: 12.03.2021
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
The British Army were there from 1900 to 1922, according to this book review. Includes fascinating snippets about water, sanitation, and electricity - www.theirishstory.com/2014/09/01/book-review-kildare-barr...
Posted: 12.03.2021
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
More history of what later became Magee Barracks - www.abandonedireland.com/Magee_Barracks.html
Posted: 12.03.2021
Niall McAuley
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/beachcomberaustralia] So there is an earliest date: Built in 1901 to train British artillery brigades for service in the Boer War
And of course latest date is 1922, since it was not a Royal Anything Barracks from that time.
Posted: 12.03.2021
ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq
More history - forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?12847-Magee-...
It's strange - no-one around, not even women and ankle-biters. But there are pot plants, net curtains, and open windows. Before the Irish Army moved in and repainted the signs?
Posted: 12.03.2021
John Spooner
A later earliest date for the MQ?
Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser - Saturday 20 January 1906:
"Tenders are hereby invited for the Erection of 20 Married Soldiers' Quarters at Kildare barracks"
Posted: 12.03.2021
Carol Maddock
From the Irish Times, 17 February 2016:
The Kildare barracks was built in 1900 on the site of the former Lock Hospital. The 31st and 33rd Brigades were the first army divisions to be stationed there along with the Royal Field Artillery. All of them served in the first World War. After the War of Independence and the signing of the treaty, British troops moved out and they were replaced by the Irish Artillery Corp which consisted of five officers, 18 NCOs and 93 gunners. A new barracks was built on site in 1938, and was named after gunner James Magee, formerly of the Mayo Militia, who switched sides and raised the Irish flag at the Battle of Ballinamuck in September 1798. Magee was later captured and executed by British forces. The barracks eventually closed in 1998.
Posted: 12.03.2021
John Spooner
How married quarters were furnished (London Daily News - Friday 22 August 1902)
Posted: 12.03.2021
Carol Maddock
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnspooner] Ooooh, “unreasonable attachment ... may cause some trouble”. There’s a story there, if not multiple stories!
Posted: 12.03.2021
John Spooner
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/47297387@N03] "The action of the military authorities in causing the wives of the 2nd Battalion Somerset Regiment to vacate their married quarters is much resented by some of the women. Whatever the reason, all the women have received instructions to make other arrangements for lodgings." (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser - Wednesday 24 January 1900). I guess the men of the 2nd Battalion were in South Africa.
It sounds as if the women had an unreasonable attachment to having a roof over their heads.
Posted: 12.03.2021
Niall McAuley
Originally two up, two down, three fireplaces by the look of it.
In some cases, two of the original microhomes have been converted to one small house today.
Posted: 12.03.2021
Niall McAuley
In this streetview, you can see that on the gable end of the terrace, there is still a sign saying Married Quarters 1-20, but it is in Irish too, so I'd say the sign dates from after 1922.
Posted: 12.03.2021
John Spooner
How to qualify for 'clean, cosy and compact' married quarters, from the Woman's World page of the Weekly Dispatch (London) - Sunday 04 February 1900
Posted: 12.03.2021
Carol Maddock
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnspooner] Crikey. That's some palaver, isn't it?
Posted: 12.03.2021
silverio10
Buenas fotos antiguas .
Posted: 13.03.2021
suckindeesel
"As I turn, already yearning, there’s a truth that I am learning –
Loneliness commences burning, deep within my broken heart.
Now the captains voice is urging and the engine begins surging.
Frosty air and steam are merging as my eyes rapidly dart
Toward the gate, where she is clinging. The conductor’s bell is ringing.
All the soldiers take up singing, as the train slowly departs
While my soul is torn apart."
Ode To A Soldier's Wife - Dusty Grein
Posted: 14.03.2021
derangedlemur
I hadn't realised before that much of the council housing around Dublin (and presumably elsewhere) was modelled on this design, with the regular gable pairs interspersed with terraces. e.g. Ballyfermot goo.gl/maps/juQvKALQwAocY4Bg6, Phibsboro goo.gl/maps/VUBWvHawebEmehw86, Whitehall goo.gl/maps/kCpoQcZGvuYbH9C87
Posted: 15.03.2021
National Library of Ireland on The Commons
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/8468254@N02] Interesting observation. Thanks.
Posted: 15.03.2021
Dr. Ilia
just beautiful!
Posted: 16.03.2021
