Barracks (originally derived through the Fr. baraque, from the Ital. baracca, or the Span. barraca) are permanent structures for the accommodation of soldiers, sailors, or police. Great opposition was made in this country to the introduction of permanent barracks during the early part of the last century, on the ground that the liberty of the subject might possibly be endangered by thus separating the soldiery so completely from the citizens, and placing them in the hands of the ruling power. On the other hand, it was contended that the older system of billeting the soldiers on the people is vexatious and burdensome; and that the morals of towns-people and villagers are liable to be vitiated by the constant presence of soldiers. The permanent barracks were few in number down to the year 1792, when George III. obtained the consent of parliament for the construction of several new ones, and for the founding of the office of barrackmaster-general. Various changes in the arrangements were made from time to time. The expenditure for barracks, in building, rebuilding, enlarging, and repairing, between 1793 and 1804, was £4,100,000; between 1804 and 1819, £3,220,000; and between 1819 and 1859 (including Aldershot Barracks, q.v.), upwards of £7,000,000. The cost varied from £27 to £209 per soldier accommodated, according to the inclusion or exclusion of officers' quarters, &c. The barrackmaster-general was replaced at the beginning of this century by commissioners for barracks, whose functions were absorbed in 1822 by the now extinct Board of Ordnance. Barracks are now under the supervision of the Surveyor-general of the Ordnance, who provides for their construction and maintenance through the Royal Engineers; and for their victualling and daily service through the Commissariat Department, with barrack-clerks and barrack-sergeants to assist in these duties. Barrack furniture is bought by the War Office at a cost of 25s. per man, and repaired at the expense of the troops. The French have a singular plan of hiring such furniture at 15 francs per man per annum, which is in some respects a better arrangement. The barrack-rooms have arm and accoutrement racks, shelves, and pegs; with a regular order for depositing everything thereon. During the day, all the arms, clothing, bedding, dishes, and tins are placed in exact array, and the iron bedsteads are turned down only at night. A subaltern officer visits every room every day. One non-commissioned officer (sergeant or corporal) has control over each room, and is responsible for quiet, cleanliness, &c. Each soldier in a barrack has the use of an iron bedstead, a rug, a paillasse, a bolster, two blankets, and two sheets; his name and number are written near his bed, and his knapsack and arms placed behind its head.
Six per cent. of the men may marry, if of good character, and with the consent of their commanding officer. Their wives must be women of good character, and are accommodated, if possible, in separate rooms, known as 'Married Soldiers' Quarters.' If quarters are not provided, a married soldier may sleep out of barracks, and is then allowed an extra 2d. per day. The provision of separate rooms for married soldiers is one of the results of the committees of inquiry appointed in 1855 and 1857. It was then found that, out of 252 barracks, only 20 had separate sleeping-rooms for married soldiers; in the other 232 they shared the rooms of the single men, with mere screens round the portion allotted to them, or else slept away from barracks altogether.
Another result of the labours of the above-mentioned committees is the greatly improved hygienic condition of barracks in such matters as drainage, ventilation, means of ablution and recreation, circulation of air, &c., and, as a natural consequence, a greatly reduced rate of mortality. Army-physicians recommend 600 cubic feet of room-space per soldier; and this is provided for in all modern barracks. It has been estimated that a new barrack for 1000 footguards in London would cost £150,000, besides land, of which at least 20 acres would be required to provide space for drill-grounds, stores, hospital, offices, &c.
The finest existing barracks in this country are perhaps those at Aldershot (q.v.). The infantry barracks each form a spacious quadrangle, with a court-yard in the centre, complete for a full battalion, with all the men's rooms at one end, and store-rooms, school-rooms, offices, married men's quarters, &c. on the other three sides. The officers' quarters are separate, and occupy open spaces between the barracks. The men's living and sleeping rooms, each for 24 men, are very large and airy; the washing-rooms are ample and well fitted; and the cooking-rooms will each cook for 350 men. These together form two blocks, each three stories high, connected by a glass roof, covering a drill-ground and the staircases, which communicate with broad balconies outside the rooms. The artillery and cavalry barracks resemble in their general features those for the infantry. The stables are under the men's rooms.
By the Military Forces Localisation Act of 1872, £3,500,000 was raised and expended in building and adapting barracks for the 70 regimental districts. They are, when practicable, constructed to accommodate two battalions, one on each side of a spacious parade-ground, and defensible through being surrounded by a high loopholed wall.