In the 1850's great changes came which were to transform Aldershot from an agricultural village to the town famous throughout the World. The transition began with training exercises by the army in the area around Chobham, Surrey, in 1853. They were experimenting with the idea of training troops on a large scale, and wanted to build a large permanent camp (the first of it's kind) where this could be done satisfactorily. The area around Aldershot was thought to be particularly suitable for this; it lay in a good position; there were large areas of infertile heathland ideal for training troop concentrations; and the owners of the land were willing to sell. After investigations, the Government brought 25,000 acres of land (at twelve pounds per acre), and the building of the first Aldershot camp began.

The first troops arrived in 1854, and were housed in temporary huts while the main work of building the camp began. Men and materials poured into the area. High wages were offered to attract building workers so that the camp could be completed quickly, and many agricultural labourers left the land to work at the camp. The building materials themselves had to be transported from the railway station at Tongham. To serve all these soldiers, workmen and labourers, shops of all kinds soon sprang up; the beginning of the town centre as we know it today. 

The camp grew over succeeding years. Permanent buildings gradually replaced the huts and other temporary structures; and tracks and footpaths became established roads as the town rapidly developed and changed out of all recognition.Aldershot's first newspaper, the Aldershot Military Gazette (later Sheldrake's Military Gazette) was started in August 1859 by William Sheldrake. The Aldershot News began in 1894 (these can also be found at the library). The growing town needed places to relax. Tweseldown Racecourse was opened in 1867, initially for the use of military men only;

and in 1900 the Queens Avenue swimming bath was opened. Boating was then very popular, and many people took advantage of the Basingstoke Canal for this.  Medical facilities were also needed. Cambridge Military Hospital was built in 1879; and Louise Margaret Hospital (named after the Duchess of Connaught, whose husband was Military Commander in Aldershot) was completed in 1898. The railway extended it's line to Aldershot in 1870, with the actual station being added later that year.

The Duke of Wellington statue was brought to Aldershot in 1885. It had initially been erected at Hyde Park Corner in London, but had not been well received there; and after a period of controversy was moved. By the time of the 1861 census, the town's population had risen to 16,720; over half of them military personnel. Aldershot soon became famous all over the world as the "Home of the British Army". 

Many a recruit passed through the town; and many thousands of civilians from the district and further afield witnessed the regularly-held Army Displays, mock battles, and open days. Queen Victoria was a regular visitor to the camp during her reign, and an especially spectacular display was held here in July 1897 to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.