subject: Historic Catterick Garrison [print this page] Catterick Garrison, located in the North of England, is home to a considerable Army base. It is situated in North Yorkshire and located a few miles east of the Yorkshire Dales and around 15 miles west of North York Moors National Park. Known as the biggest British Army barracks, it has a population of over 10,000 people and a fleeting populace of soldiers. Aside from being the largest British Army base, it is also known to be the largest European army base. Catterick is the largest of three Infantry Training Centres in the UK and the Infantry Training Centre conducts infantry training which combines Phase one and Phase two on the Combat Infantryman's Course.
The Garrison is not of a standard fenced base design, but consists of a town and community which has been developed around a number of barracks. At the turn of the century, the Garrison gained a Tesco superstore, which was the first supermarket to open in the area, as well as a retail and business park which includes a McDonalds. The Garrison now has a number of modern retail outlets including pharmacies such as Boots, large supermarket chains such as Morrison's and Lidl's and other stores such as Simply Beds and Greggs the bakers. Due to the increasing population and retail, the signs on the road have now been altered from "Camp Centre" to "Town Centre" and the barracks have expanded outwards and now contain several villages, mostly occupied by civilians. These villages include the suburbs of Hipswell, Brough With St Giles, Scotton and Colburn, where the retail park is located.
Catterick Garrison is thought to be the site of the historic Battle of Catrath circa 598, which is mentioned in the poem Y Gododdin. The Battle of Catraeth was fought between the Celtic British and the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Bernicia and as a result of this it was made a seat of the British kingdom of Rheged. The area developed and prospered greatly in the early 19th century as a travellers reside because of its positioning along the Great North Road. Travellers and their horses would stop overnight and many taverns and inns were developed to cater for the trade.
Leisure activities in the area include places such as Catterick Races, one of the true homes to the northern racing scene. This venue is abundant in tradition and a favourite among a lot of the region's trainers, owners and racing fanatics of the public. Racing at Catterick Bridge began around the mid 17th century, but a permanent course was not built until 1813. The racecourse is known to be the busiest in North Yorkshire and plays host to races all year round.
The Norman church of Saint Anne's overlooks the village and most of the residents work in the Garrison, in agriculture or in the local towns of Darlington, Richmond, Teesside and Northallerton. Transport to these areas is easy whether by car and the A1 motorway, or via a number of different public transport options. Buses and trains run locally through the area which helps commuters travel to their jobs.
