Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village used to be Lyemun Barracks, barracks for the British Soldiers stationed in Hong Kong.
Old Lyemun Barracks
Lyemun Barracks was named after the fishing village of Lei Yue Mun. During the Japanese Occupation(1941-1945), the Barracks fell into the hands of the Japanese. The Barracks housed the Depot and Record Office of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps between 1948 and 1985. The Barracks were handed over to the Government in 1985 and were subsequently converted into Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village.[1]
The whole former barracks compound is graded as Grade I historic building because of its historic significance. The buildings of the compound are graded as Grade I,II and III historic buildings separately, however. The barracks block 10, 18, 21 and 25 are graded as Grade I historic buildings. The barrack block 07 is graded as Grade II historic building. The blocks 02, 03, 05, 17, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 are graded as Grade III historic buildings. [2]
Facilities
It has transformed into a park/holiday village, with facilities such as Rope Courses, Horse-Riding school (with a very steep hiking/hacking route up the nearby hillsides), tennis courts, basketball courts, football pitches, as well as many indoor games. The rooms that used to be for soldiers are now transformed into small living quarters for the holiday village.
The riding school has a large and a small paddock. it has about 30 stalls to accommodate about 30 horses and also a hacking route with spectacular views. [3]
Horses and ponies currently in lymprs include: School Ponies:
- Pr94 Romero
- Pr97 Bo Peep
- Pr108 Honeydew
- Pr110 Bumpty
- Pr115 Pageboy
- Pr132 Spot
- Pr144 Kalibar
- Pr155 Woody
- Pr158 Showtown
- Pr160 Blitz
- Pr166 Lolly
School Horses:
- Hr46 Blue Bell
- Hr66 Rowdy
- Hr82 Puzzle
- HR83 Bodie
- Hr91 Egoguess
Retired Racehorses
- A180 Shining Gem
- A220 Perfect Moment
- BJ57 St Dragon Hill
- BJ136 Nitrogen
- BK115 Golden Era
- L102 Turf King
- L142 Sentosa
- L145 Country Lad
- M149 Leading Lantern
- S126 Flags Up
- S248 Triumphant Star
- S304 Enchanted Treasure
- V119 Elegance
As the horses always move around the three different riding schools, the information above may not be accurate. Horse list last updated 1/5/2007
Historic Buildings
The whole compound was graded as Grade I historic buildings; the historic buildings were graded separately.
Following blocks of ex-Lyemun Barracks were converted to the facilities of the Holiday Village.[1]
- Block 02: It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 03: Constructed in 1939. Formerly used as Barrack Room Office or Store. It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 05: Construction between 1920 and 1939. Former Gymnasium of the Barracks; converted to Indoors Games Halls and Leisure Centers of the Holiday Village. It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 07: Construction between 1890 and 1910. Formerly used "HKMSC Training Complex" of the Barracks, converted to coffer corner of the Holiday Village. It is Grade II historic building.
- Block 10: Construction between 1890 and 1910. Now used as Indoor Recreation Center of the Holiday Village. It is Grade I historic building.
- Block 17: Construction between 1910 and 1919, formerly used as "Junior Ranks Club". It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 18: Construction between 1890 and 1910, converted to Indoors Recreation Center of the Holiday Village. It is Grade I historic building.
- Block 20: Construction between 1890 and 1895, converted to Entertainment Center of the Holiday Village. It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 21: Construction between 1890 and 1895. Formerly used as H.K.M.S.C. Headquarters, converted to Office of the Holiday Village. It is Grade I historic building.
- Block 25: Construction between 1884 and 1890. Formerly used as Officers' Mess of the Barracks, converted to be hostel of the Holiday Village. It is Grade I historic building.
- Block 30 or "Masefield Block": Built in 1936. Now used as hostel of the Holiday Village. It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 31 or "Shakespeare Block": Built in 1907. Now used as hostel of the Holiday Village. It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 32 or "Tennyson Block": Built in 1909. Now used as hostel of the Holiday Village. It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 33 or "Milton Block" : Built in 1938. Now used as Staff Quarters of the Holiday Village. It is Grade III historic building.
- Block 34 or "Wordsworth Block": Built in 1936. Now used as hostel of the Holiday Village. It is Grade III historic building.