British Army The barracks were opened as a base for the 4th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Militia in 1865. In 1887 the barracks were bought, with corps funds, to accommodate the 3rd Battalion the
Prince of Wales (West Yorkshire) Regiment (The Rifles). In 1908, the 3rd battalion became the 7th and 8th battalions; these new battalions were also based at Carlton Barracks. as was the headquarters of
269 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. The former regiment evolved to become the 7th (Leeds Rifles) battalion of the
West Yorkshire Regiment, based at Carlton Barracks, and the latter regiment evolved to become a battery now known as
269 (West Riding) Battery Royal Artillery which is still based at the barracks.
Royal Navy The former HMS
Ceres was a
Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) unit in
Yeadon, West Yorkshire which was
decommissioned in 1995 in the wake of the
Options for Change restructuring programme. In 1999 the decision was made to re-establish a Royal Naval Reserve presence in West Yorkshire and a satellite unit named Calder Division was opened in
Batley to train communications ratings, although the temporary nature of the accommodation and limited equipment led to recruitment and retention difficulties. An alternative building, Carr Lodge, was found within Carlton Barracks, Leeds and underwent refurbishment providing modern facilities. The unit was renamed Ceres Division and was officially opened by
Rear Admiral K. John Borley, Flag Officer Training and Recruitment, on 14 May 2005 with a
guard paraded by its then-parent unit, HMS
Sherwood, and music provided by the
Band of HM Royal Marines, Scotland. A plan to refurbish and extend Carr Lodge was approved with work completed in 2015 on a new two-storey training wing with state-of-the-art classrooms, enlarged changing rooms and an accommodation block with permanent bed spaces. Previous works had added a storage facility and a
galley. The unit was formally commissioned on 6 February 2016 by
The Princess Royal who dedicated the new facilities. A Royal Guard paraded with the RNR
Queen's Colour of the Royal Navy and music was provided by the
Band of HM Royal Marines, Plymouth.
Affiliations The unit was affiliated to
HMS Ark Royal before she was decommissioned in March 2011 and remains affiliated to the
Royal Navy Historic Flight, which flies
Fairey Swordfish Mk.I W5856,
City Of Leeds. == Units ==