Government House, Aldershot

The house was built in Queen Anne revival style as the garrison commander's house in 1883.^[1] A military horse cemetery was created in the grounds of the house in the late 1880s.^[2] Most of the house was destroyed in a serious fire in January 1903, but there were no casualties and soldiers from nearby barracks managed to salvage much of the furniture and valuables.^[3] The new house was remodelled internally and it became the garrison officers' mess.^[4] In May 1904, shortly after the house re-opened, Lieutenant General Sir John French, Commanding the Troops at Aldershot, hosted a visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales there^[5] and in July 1914 Lieutenant General Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief Aldershot Command, was waiting anxiously inside the house when he heard that the First World War had broken out.^[6]

In the 1920s and 1930s searchlight military tattoos were held in the grounds of Government House.^[7] The house was designated as Grade II listed in 2002.^[1] The building was again extensively refurbished in 2012 by Rydon^[8] and the Queen's Dining Room continues to be used to entertain important visitors to the garrison.^[4] The stables at the house will be converted for use as accommodation as part of the Army 2020 plan.^[9]

• Rowlands, Murray (2015). Aldershot in the Great War: The Home of the British Army. Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1783832026.

51°16′21″N 0°45′33″W / 51.2724°N 0.7593°W / 51.2724; -0.7593