Kitchener Barracks Demolition over 5 months
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ธ.ค. 2017
- Kitchener Barracks In Brompton, Kent, UK, formerly known as Chatham Barracks, was the home and workplace of the Royal Marines.
A large section of the Main building on the site is now being demolished over a 5 month period to make room for a housing estate with 300 new zero carbon homes.
This site is located directly next to the Historical Fort Amherst and Just along the road from The Historic Dockyard.
All video footage and pictures were taken by and owned by me.
©Drone Exploration 2018-2019
Part 2 is coming soon, it's been a long time in the making due to the time it's taken to build the site so far, Because of this I have decided to split the rebuild video so i'll be working on getting Part 2 online very soon, Subscribe and click the bell so you get notified!
My Dad was in Kitchener at the beginning of the war on a course and I was there from 1974-78. Great memories. So sad to see it torn down. I would love to hear from any old 24 mates. I still live in Gillingham so I've watched this happen. I never drive past without reliving those old days.
I post update pictures of the progress on the ME postcode group on facebook, I get a lot of response from people who did work there, could be worth a shout out on there see who responds :)
Hi Del were you still at Kitchener when Ozzie Peters was SSM or was it Mackay .
@@daveladdie3614 Hi Dave, I was there for about a week after Ozzie took over. He barred me from camp which was a shame as I played for the Cannon and that was our home pitch.
I don't know what happened to Ozzie but I know Fraser Mackay died.
@@gregerlach Hi Del I have heard your name mentioned on the 24 fld sqn Facebook site, are you a member, there is a reunion coming up soon at the Cannon.
Thanks so much for posting. My father was an RE and went to the barracks for a short while in Oct 1940 before being sent to North Africa.
Ah that's cool, keep an eye out for part 2 (it's in progress but it will be a while yet) it'll be good to see how they have transformed the site but kept a lot original too. I'm glad you enjoyed it 👍😊
I remember being on the gate on guard watching the fireworks new years eve 2003.Good memories.
It's good to hear from people that worked at Kitchener Barracks, thanks for sharing your memories :)
Fascinating - thank you. I was the OC in 1999 - 2002. The chimney building was the cookhouse. The smaller building due refurb as flats was only rebuilt in 2001 as the HQ building. We lived in a house on the perimeter. Happy days!
Thank you for the good feedback :) was the house you lived in within the actual grounds or further up the road in Brompton?
The house was in Brompton just over the fence from Kitchener Bks.
@@andrewgladen4982 ah handy living next door to work then 😊
That means you were my OC I was single then however I've now up graded to a 4 bedroom house in Cornwall
amazing footage from our amazing Uncle, love Charle and George xx
Thank you boys 👍😊 xx
I was a Chef at Kitchener Bks from September 1974 to September 1977. I was also part of the RSME shooting team and shot at Bisley, Surrey during this time.
Ah cool it's always good to hear from people who worked there 😊
What's your thoughts on the developments happening there now?
This is so wrong ripping down our old HERITAGE !! We have so many homeless veterans!! Could it not of been converted into self contained flares for these desperate brave people ??
As you said it's about money, unfortunately times change and places get redeveloped!
I was billeted in Kitchener Barracks in 1966 whilst awaiting to start a Civil & Structural Draughtsman A3 Course at the RSME. I clearly remember returning at lunchtime from the RSME to Kitchener Barracks for lunch and from my room on the top floor fronting Dock Road seeing the residual smoke from a fire in No.2 Covered Slipway of the Dockyard. I understand it had started earlier in the morning. I was trying to see if there was evidence of the Guard Room just inside the entrance to Kitchener Barracks, it was immediately on the left as you entered, but it seems as though it had already been demolished. During my stay at Kitchener I spent many happy hours (lol) in the Guard Room whilst undertaking 12 hour 'Picket' duties - 4 hours on and 4 hours off (18:00 to 06:00) and then straight back up to work at the RSME Brompton as though nothing had happened! BTW - Love the haunting piano music . .who's it by?
Correction: Guard Duty was 2 hours on 2 hours off not 4hrs as stated.
It's great to hear from someone who worked there, Sounds like they kept you busy! I wasn't aware of a fire in the dockyard, I'll do some research on that :) I'm not sure if its a guard room but there is a building on the left as you enter from fort Amherst end, perhaps that's it?
I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the music, it's one from youtube, there's thousands to choose from.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, I hope it's brought back many happy memories for you :)
OK, then that could well be the Guard Room but it looks too modern so perhaps it had a 'make-over' since I first knew it - it was over 50 years ago! However, from what I can remember Khartoum Road was the Main Entrance going into and through the entire length of Kitchener Barracks. You could get out by using the other end of going out onto Brompton Hill from within the Barracks but it was only manned during the day and only for the use of Royal Engineer movement to and fro the Barracks. The fire to No.2 Slipway in Chatham Dockyard was on the morning of the 12th July 1966. You haven't yet revealed the identity of the hauntingly beautiful piano music . . .?
ah yeah it does look quite new so maybe they did rebuild it.
The music is called Almost in F - Tranquility my Kevin Macleod. It's from TH-cam's selection of music but i'm sure it could be found online somewhere
Many thanks . .
Really enjoyed the video, glad to know its been documented for future generations, so sad to see it go but glad to know they are keeping some of the old history and buildings. Keep up the good work.
+Neil Rothwell thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. It is a shame to see it go. I'll be doing a part 2 to this video of the site being built into a housing estate
Lots of memories there spent 2 years of my life there! Thanks for the videos
I bet you have some great stories to tell 😊
There will be part 2 coming very soon so be sure to subscribe 👍😊
Was stationed here for 2 years as permanent staff as well as plenty of visits for courses, sad to see such a historic place and one that I have very fond memories of go 😢
Hi Dominic, What was life like being stationed there? I can imagine some funny times! :)
Spent over 2yrs there in the early 70's, I loved Chatham. My room overlooked the docks and the long rope room there. Great views to wake up to. The building with the chimney would've been the kitchen as the dining hall was on the ground floor of the remaining large building. The block being renovated was the Sqn Office and, if I remember rightly, the NAAFI was behind it. The building in the corner at the perimeter wall were the MT and opposite the main building was the football pitch etc. I don't really remember the air raid shelters.
Thank you for the information, it's good to hear it from someone who worked there, The stories from there must be amazing, I can imagine a lot of laughs happened there too. I played football on the pitch once when I was younger, our team needed to borrow the pitch for whatever reason, I ended up sat in the office most of the game chatting to the ghurkas lol they were really friendly blokes and excellent soldiers too
Hi Don, the air raid shelters were just grass covered mounds behind the 24 club (NAAFI). All the best, Del de Lorme. 24 from 74 - 78.
Such a shame I was there for 7 years 2004 -2011 Hope the people who live there will appreciate the history of where they will be living
7 years! I bet you have some stories to tell 👍😊
Yes let's hope so!
Lived there for several months. The building in the centre with the chimney is the kitchen with the dining room being to the front (right as you look at it) inside the main listed building.
Good footage but sad to see, was based here for my POM training, bottom block next to the mt near the back gate. Had some good times, cant understand why its going, waterbeach barracks in Cambridge is another one of my haunts to disappear.
Yeah unfortunately with all the defence cuts there's alot of them going, I bet you have some great stories to tell tho of your time there, everyone that has ever had anything to do with the barracks seem to have fond memories 😊
How sad another piece of our history and culture been destroyed
To a degree yes, the company building the site have been very respectful of the original listed Khartoum building and other listed buildings
Spent many years there, some fantastic memories, actually quite sad to see it go.
It is a shame, looks completely different now!
Hey man, where's part 2? I would love to see the development
Hi Part 2 is coming, the rebuild of the site is taking longer than i thought it would though, join us on facebook at drone exploration as I have been posting pictures on there in the meantime
Epic dronage and well done for recording the events. Modern politics seems to be all about re-writing the past to hide past crimes.
+Blank Steve thank you 👍😊
In my experience as a telephone engineer used to visiting mod sites, the modern barracks used to be well built with quality materials. Couldn't they have been turned into flats or something without demolishing them?
I notice the hideous 60's tower block still exists in the background, which the fire brigade could never reach.
The listed part is being turned into flats but the other part went to make way for new apartments with underground parking
@@fasteddy546 yeah I'm sure it'll be there forever! Lol
was at Kitchener Bks 71 to 73 with my brother John Musgrove some great memories so sad to see it being demolished
I used to play football with your brother when I was in 24 from 1974-8. My name is Del de Lorme.
I love how videos like this can bring back find memories 👍😊
Was he a NCO at Southwood camp?
Hi Mike, I played football with your brother John when I was in 24. How's he doing? Tubby Lawes was the captain and Stan Slater and Mickey Doig played too. Cheers, Del de Lorme.
The tunnels under here are known as "The Royal Marine Deep Refuge" .There are various videos on here which show them.Look at the 2 vids posted by IKS Exploration, which will answer your question about the hospital. Shame the tunnels are now sealed , for many years to come , maybe forever due to the development of the land. Thanks for this video.
merc2302 hi yes I've been down them tunnels 2 or 3 times and I was in the IKS video lol (I'm Garreth)
the work on them has finished but it's been resealed and welded shut again now.
The second level in the tunnels was a casualty clearing station, we found a door with a red cross on it that says casualty clearing station, was on the floor and a bit beaten up though. The 3rd level is backfilled and comes out at the barracks.
With all the sorrounding being built on Rochester and Strood, Riverside, Hoo, Chattenden, High Halstow, was there any need to destroy the barracks, surely they could have been utilised for another use for small start up businesses for example
I agree although with the pentagon office tower sitting just round the corner virtually empty from day one I doubt they could fill it if they converted it to office space, Medway council charge too much rent and business rates to make it viable for startups unfortunately.
It is good to see the developers have kept the listed buildings and respecting the history of the site tho
Hi I was stationed here from 1969 to 1973 this is a sad video for me there was a football park over from the main entrance with an area underneath with loads of storage space had a great time here. The Naffi was beside the sarg,s mess guardroom was at the entrance at the top of the hill.
It is a shame to see it go, I'm glad they're keeping the original listed buildings though, I bet you have many great memories there.
The storage you say about is that the tunnels?
when do you intend to do part 2 ?
Mr Muzza I have been in talks with them and filming will commence very soon, once they have reviewed the video and given it the ok it will be online, the video will be done over a period of time again so it will be a while.
Pictures will be added to our Facebook group as the video progresses
Join our FB group here...
facebook.com/groups/253224271749253/
Amazing video Once again 👍 it's nice to be able to see what's going on in there as many people will have never seen it before , But a very big shame it's going! Can't wait for the next video :)
Thank you :)
Shame the old buildings are coming down part of the history of Medway gone forever
Michael Canham - Croom yeah it is a shame but at least some of them will remain tho
18 months ago started to do a time lapse on a new care home being built in Broadway Gillingham, since then no progression, so frustrating.
+BrightsparkTone cool idea, did they stop building it?
Apparently some dispute on who pays for the services to the site. Watch this space.
Nearly bought a Mavic Pro or a Spark to do the same.
+BrightsparkTone Mavic pro is well worth the money, I'll be doing a part 2 to this video of the site being built into a housing estate
Hi I work for the company building the houses that will be placed onto this land, have you had chance to video it’s progress? I’d be well keen to have a look how it’s getting on. Thanks
Hi yes I've been visiting the site to film it capturing footage for part 2. Take a look on our FB I've been posting pictures on there. Medway drone exploration is the FB page
How sad to see this, a lot of the landmarks from my youth livin,g and working in Chatham and Rochester are no more !!
Yes it's a shame to see so much disapearing :(
Randall Tee sent me here!
Roger Elliott what's Randall Tee?
I was at the RSME 1964 to 1967. The building being refurbished used to be the sergents mess, I washed up a few times in there. They had a piananola that was fun to play. Some sod stole my photo album from my locker while I was there, all my army photos lost. Just a point, what happened to Kitcheners statue that was at the entry gate ? He kept loosing his sword.
Kitchens statue is still there, if it hasn't already it will be taken away to be cleaned and refurbished I believe but it will remain there, I remember the Sargent's mess when I was about 10 years old I used to play Sunday league football and one week we used Kitchener's pitch, I didn't play much football I ended up just sitting in there chatting to the ghurkas, at least I'm 99% sure it was that building haha
Hi Phil, the statue is still there. It's a real shame to see the place ripped down. I was in 24 from 1974 to 78 and I still live in the area. It was heart breaking to see the work going on. At one time I could see the interior of my old room. All those memories came back. I still go to the monthly REA meetings and see some of the old boys. Brompton barracks hasn't changed much. I don't think it will ever be flattened. All the best, Del de Lorme.
I live behind this new development. Its shame what they are doing. But can't wait till it's done the dust is driving us mad
I can imagine, I have been on the site quite a few times and they do keep it tidy but I guess as with any demolition and building work dust is inevitable, it looks like a lot of the ground work is done so shouldn't be much more dust plus the wet weather should help keep it down and wash it away, are you in the new build estate behind?
@@Medwaydroneexploration Can't be helped really. Yes in the builds next to fort Amherst. Our garden backs on to the site. One good thing about it all is that all the trees have gone. So we have sun light 🌞
@@mattyjamess7818 I've been trying to avoid flying too close to your properties and keeping the drone as close to the main building as poss so I don't annoy the residents, hopefully you haven't noticed me flying over the site? I try to be as unobtrusive as I can but if ever you or your neighbours have any concerns feel free to come and have a chat, we'll always do our best to work with the community 😊
Good news about the tree's then, my neighbours have 3 massive trees in their garden that blocks the sunlight to mine so I know how annoying it is, I'd love to see them chopped down!
exploration never noticed a drone. I'm sure everyone will like to see the before and after shots keep up the good work 👍
@@mattyjamess7818 that's good thank you 😊
This is criminal damage
it definitely would be if they tore down the listed buildings, better to restore them and put them to good use than to leave them to crumble
Royal marines don't need barracks or housing. Send more Boat People from France to take the place
They'd only complain about it! 😂🤣
I lived in there for a while, it was an experience 😂
Shared
mal noakes thank you 👍😊
Komu to kurwa przeszkadzało!
Criminal
I think they're respecting the history of the site by saving the listed buildings and putting them to good use instead of just leaving them to rot and crumble then destroying them all together like medway council have done to so many other sites
It's all about fcking money !!
I was sat in one of them rooms when the news broke that Michael Jackson Had Died...
I bet you have some interesting stories to tell from your time there? seems a lot of people enjoyed their time there
So what now a muslim welcome center in its place ?
No there's no plans for that lol 😂