Somme Barracks

The Somme Barracks is a military facility built from red brick with light-colored stone detailing, stretching in an L-shaped layout along Glossop Road and Gell Street with Elizabethan design elements. The grounds also include a covered riding school constructed in 1910 that remains a notable structure within the compound.

The barracks was established in 1907 and named after the 1st West Riding Divisional Royal Engineers participated in the Battle of the Somme during World War I. This battle became a defining moment that shaped the identity of the facility and its role within the military community.

The Allen VC Room within the Officers' Mess displays military memorabilia honoring William Barnsley Allen, a Sheffield native who received the Victoria Cross. Visitors can see personal items and documents that tell the story of this local hero's service.

The facility serves as home to the University of Sheffield Officers' Training Corps and can be partially viewed from outside, with the best views visible from Glossop Road and Gell Street. The location is easily reached on foot and sits near other university buildings in the city center.

The covered riding school built in 1910 was entirely funded through donations collected directly from corps members during the Edwardian era. This self-funded approach reveals the strong unity and commitment within the military community of that time.