The Old Park Barracks was established in 1938 with the purchase by the War Department of the existing Old Park Mansion and Estate (TR 34 SW 630). It is unclear whether this was a compulsory purchase by the War Department or part of the response to Mr Hore-Belisha's proposed army reforms of the mechanised infantry regiments. By December 1938 the barracks were under construction by Richard Costain Ltd , being laid out on an integrated symmetrical pattern across the site. The buildings erected included a number of near-identical 3 storey H-plan barrack blocks in Neo-Georgian style together with a number of lesser accommodation blocks as well as married quarters, Sergeants and Warrant Officers Messes, a guard house, a gymnasium and a rifle range. The barracks when completed in 1939 occupied most of the Upper Park of the former Old Park Estate. The existing mansion was taken over and put into use as an Officers Mess.

Following the Second World War the barracks became the Headquarters of the Junior Leaders Regiment, royal Engineers and from 1963 underwent extensive alterations including the demolition of the original Mansion of which only boundary walls remain. In 1992 the barracks was decomissioned and in 1999 several buildings were demolished.(1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1999, Former Old Park Barracks, Whitfield, Dover, Proposed Redevelopment, Archaeological Desk Study and Impact Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE7305.