Glencorse Barracks, Military barracks in Midlothian, Scotland
Glencorse Barracks is an active military base in Midlothian, Scotland, situated just north of Penicuik and forming part of the Edinburgh garrison. The site holds the headquarters of the Royal Highland Fusiliers alongside accommodation and administrative buildings.
The site was built in 1803 during the Napoleonic Wars to serve as Greenlaw Military Prison, holding French prisoners of war. In 1875 it was converted into infantry barracks, taking on the role it still holds today.
The entrance gate bears inscriptions honoring the Royal Scots Regiment, one of the oldest infantry regiments in the British Army. Passing by it gives a sense of how deeply Scottish military traditions are rooted in this part of Midlothian.
The barracks can be reached by road, with local bus routes running near Penicuik providing a way to get close. As an active military facility, public access is very limited, so a visit to the grounds requires prior authorization.
The original guard house from 1803 still stands on the grounds, converted into a clock tower. It is the only surviving structure from the prison period, making it a direct physical link between the site's earliest use and its current one.
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