British army to leave historic Derry barracks

British soldiers and police will leave Derry's historic Ebrington barracks today just 24 hours before its handover to government…

British soldiers and police will leave Derry's historic Ebrington barracks today just 24 hours before its handover to government officials.

The 29-acre site is being closed down as part of a £200 million sterling reform package.

Although the resident battalion left the base in April, troops from the 1st Battalion the Green Howards stationed nearby at Ballykelly in Co Derry are to perform final manoeuvres out of Ebrington.

The base was a regular target for Provisional IRA and dissident republicans throughout 30 years of violence and its closure will bring an end to more than 160 years of British military history in the city.

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Ebrington has been a home to all three branches of the British armed services since it opened in 1841 and includes examples of unique Victorian architecture.

In January last year, however, Chief Constable Hugh Orde announced it was to close.

The site features in a government reinvestment and reform scheme announced in May 2002 that involves transferring a list of military and prison complexes to the Stormont Executive for development purposes.

Ebrington is the last of four former army bases to be disposed of following handovers at Magherafelt, Co Derry; Long Kesh near Lisburn, Co Antrim; and Malone Road in Belfast.