The demolition of a former army barracks gymnasium has been met with sadness from former users.
The sports centre at Burgoyne Barracks on the old Shorncliffe Garrison camp had served dozens of clubs and thousands of participants.
The camp was established in 1794 when the British Army bought more than 229 acres of land at Shorncliffe in Cheriton, Folkestone.
But the building, off West Road, is most recently known for being the home to the Junior Infantryman’s Battalion (JIB) and then the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion (IJLB), until the dissolution of junior soldier recruitment in 1991.
Prior to this, it was also used by hockey outfits and Folkestone Boxing Club, as well as volleyball, badminton and trampoline sides from as far back as the 1960s.
However, the building has now been torn down to make way for new homes as part of the Shorncliffe Heights development.
Work began earlier this month and KentOnline can now reveal the site has been flattened.
The decision to demolish the building ignited emotions from many of its former visitors.
Ahead of its disappearnce, Dave Tomlinson said: “I spent a year at what was IJLB 1979-1980 when I joined the Army.
“I have good memories of boxing and being beasted in that gym.
“I returned in 1987-1988 as a training corporal, and, after 23 years service and now retired, I drive past it on a regular basis with a tinge of sadness it’s about to disappear.”
Lorna Tonks added: “I played badminton there in the 1970s before the club moved to the sports centre.”
Meanwhile, Nick Pain commented: “We had a 24-hour volleyball charity game there in the 80s.
“It raised money for the Army Benevolent Fund and Folkestone Volleyball Club. The early morning session was the worst.”
Some 48 homes will be built on a 3.8-acre plot – known as Phase 2C of the wider Shorncliffe Heights development – on the most southerly point of the Garrison, having been given the nod from Folkestone and Hythe District Council’s planning committee in December.
The units will form part of the 1,200 homes currently being built by developer Taylor Wimpey which received outline planning permission in 2015.
Taylor Wimpey acquired the barracks from the Ministry of Defence that year but the government has been using part of the former military buildings to house asylum seekers.
Although the government has permission to occupy the North Road site until September 2026, it plans to leave this September allowing Taylor Wimpey to build the next round of homes.
