History of Great Warley
Also see Little Warley
As always, I start the history of an area with a few trade directories, Pubs and
census data.
The history of the
Great Warley Barracks; originally home of the troops of the East India
Company
Great Warley 1848 Whites Directory
Great Warley 1855 Post Office Directory
Great Warley 1874 Post Office Directory -
1874 Commercial Traders
Great Warley 1882 Kellys Directory -
1882 Private residents -
1882 Commercial Traders
Great Warley 1886 Kellys Directory -
1886 Private Residents -
1886 Commercial Traders
Great Warley 1894 Kellys Directory -
1894 Private Residents -
1894 Commercial Traders
There are fifteen historical Public Houses listed in
Great Warley
Warley - There was a considerable Barrack area in Little Warley, initially set up in the 1770's as an
adhoc (non-permanent) camp, although Parish Records show there to have
been a military presence as early as 1742 . In 1804, 116 acres of land was
purchased from George Winn, the owner of Great Warley manor. Barracks built for
two troops of horse artillery, i.e. ten officers and 306 men; plus 222 horses
were to be stabled.
The East India Company, transferred here in 1843 from Brompton Barracks,
Chatham, Kent, costing £15000 but requiring alterations to house 7 officers, 21
staff sergeants and 800 men.
Also, the Essex Regiment chapel was built at a cost of £2147 . By end of 1857;
2,500 men had passed through the barracks and shipped to India.
Training was initially for artillery and infantry but also included 3092 cavalry
recruits despatched to Calcutta by August, 1858.
Many were also garrisoned in the town.
Administrative rights of the East
India Company were transferred to the Crown in 1860
The War office took possession of Warley Barracks in 1861, and a depot battery
of Royal Artillery was stationed there.
In 1864, Warley became a depot for the Guards.
In 1870, the Royal Scots were in occupation and when the Guards were transferred
to Caterham.
In 1873 after the Guards, the 44th and 56th Regiments of Foot were there. *
In 1881 important changes, known
as the Cardwell Reforms, were made. As a result the various infantry units of a
county or district were grouped territorially. In Essex the 44th (East Essex)
Regiment and the 56th (West Essex) Regiment were brought together and called the
1st and 2nd Battalions of The Essex Regiment. The two units of the ancient
militia, the East Essex Militia and the Essex (Rifles) Militia, were
re-designated the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions of The Essex Regiment, while
the depot companies of these four units were brought together at Warley Barracks
and formed into the Regimental Depot. Finally the various Corps of Essex Rifle
Volunteers became the four Volunteer Battalions of the Regiment. In this manner
was the foundation laid for the Territorial Army. **