Drill halls Options

[Roger D]

I'm currently look at a man from 3rd County of London Yeomanry (The Sharpshooters.) It seems they moved to a newly build drill hall at Henry Street, St John's Wood in 1912. The road is now named Allitsen Road, it's close to Lords. Don't know yet whether or not it survives yet, a London based friend will check it out and if it does photograph it. They moved out in 1961 so I have a suspicion it will have been knocked down by now.

[Graeme Fisher]

I'm currently look at a man from 3rd County of London Yeomanry (The Sharpshooters.) It seems they moved to a newly build drill hall at Henry Street, St John's Wood in 1912. The road is now named Allitsen Road, it's close to Lords. Don't know yet whether or not it survives yet, a London based friend will check it out and if it does photograph it. They moved out in 1961 so I have a suspicion it will have been knocked down by now.

The Sharpshooters were in premises in Henry Street, St John's Wood, from around 1906. There's mention of the premises in Allitsen Road here, http://www.zardoz.net/orwell/DrillHall.html[u], and from another source 'They remained at their pre-war headquarters, formerly Henry Street, now renamed Allitsen Road.'

The premises, however, appear to be nothing more than administrative offices.

Graeme

[Deleted_kclrpc_*]

Hello Graeme
I'm new to this forum, but I found this thread through a web search. I'm doing research which I'm guessing may well cross yours. along with a friend, I am looking at all rifle clubs in the Greater London Area, and I have run accross two regimental rifle clubs. One is recorded as the London 15th & 16th (Late Queen’s Westminster), and the second was the 53rd London Brigade R.G.A/T.A. I only have an address for the latter, which was Offord Rd. Drill Hall, Barnsbury, N.1. As far as I know the road still exists. The Queen's Westminster, although the police didn't record any address, it was examined by the Rochester Row station, and I'm thinking it may well be connected to the drill hall that the London Scottish still have on Horseferry Road. Do you have any knowledge of either of these two regiments I could use to add to my research? I am also planning a return visit to Kew, and will gladly add any other drill halls to the thread if they've not already been mentioned
regards
Nick Harlow

[Deleted_pillboxman2002_*]

Does anyone have any information on the Millfield drill hall in Peterborough? When was it built and might it have been the building in the photograph? It doesn't look like the front of a drill hall but I'm assuming it's been modified. Or is this not the right building at all?

Attached File(s)

 millfield.jpg ( 59.82K ) Number of downloads: 0

 

[Graeme Fisher]

I have a brief mention of premises in Lincoln Road, Millfield, now used as a dispersal centre for asylum seekers.

My database refers to premises for G and H companies 1st Volunteer Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment at ‘The Drill Hall, in Queen street, erected in 1868,[a] plain edifice of brick... used for concerts and lectures; it will seat 800 persons.’ It also provided a home for the Northamptonshire Battery [4th East Anglian Brigade] Royal Field Artillery.

Elsewhere, the Northamptonshire Yeomanry (B Squadron) had head quarters in St. Leonards road, by 1914 Queen street. Additionally, 'Northamptonshire Royal Engineers (1st)Volunteer (attached to 2nd Tower Hamlets); head quarters & orderly room, St. Leonard street.’

This suggests the Millfield premises postdate the above. The information is from Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire, 1910 and 1914.

The building in the foreground of the photograph is somewhat nondescript; the part behind has all the hallmarks of a 100' by 60' drill hall with a low pitched roof. Perhaps we're looking at the back end, with stores and offices for the artillery unit.

Interesting.....

Graeme

[Graeme Fisher]

Hello Graeme
I'm new to this forum, but I found this thread through a web search. I'm doing research which I'm guessing may well cross yours. along with a friend, I am looking at all rifle clubs in the Greater London Area, and I have run accross two regimental rifle clubs. One is recorded as the London 15th & 16th (Late Queen’s Westminster), and the second was the 53rd London Brigade R.G.A/T.A. I only have an address for the latter, which was Offord Rd. Drill Hall, Barnsbury, N.1. As far as I know the road still exists. The Queen's Westminster, although the police didn't record any address, it was examined by the Rochester Row station, and I'm thinking it may well be connected to the drill hall that the London Scottish still have on Horseferry Road. Do you have any knowledge of either of these two regiments I could use to add to my research? I am also planning a return visit to Kew, and will gladly add any other drill halls to the thread if they've not already been mentioned
regards
Nick Harlow

Nick - apologies for not replying sooner - I'll PM you with what I have for London

Graeme

[Dragon]

I can find nowhere else to get information on drill halls on a national scale. I know there is, or was, a drill hall in Oakham from the 1908-1914 period, but don't know the location. Is this this still extant and where?

Hello pillboxman2002

Noticing that you've returned to the thread, I'll reply.

I can say in answer to your first comment that we have built a website which we have now beta-tested. It will be a resource of the sort you seek.

I visited Oakham to find and record its drill hall for the Database. The staff in the County Museum were extremely helpful and pointed me in the direction of this building on Penn street.

[attachment=41524:attachment]

You may know that there was also a Leicestershire Yeomanry Riding School in the town. This was in the building which has been refurbished and converted into the County Museum. Apparently the King of the Belgians kept his horses and carriages there during the Great War. I can add a picture should you wish.

Gwyn

Picture removed by me.

[squirrel]

Nick,

London Scottish have only been at Horseferry Road for about 20 odd years. Prior to that they were in Palace Street SW1.

[Dragon]

My understanding from the drill hall database is that the original wrought iron structure of the old drill hall was listed. It was dismantled, renovated and incorporated in the Horseferry road building.

I can't source this information other than the database and Graeme isn't available to consult at the moment. It seems an inventive and elegant solution to a problem. Pictures would be fantastic, especially before and after ones.

(I might be quite mistaken and therefore referring to the wrong building, as I'm unfamiliar with London and have only come across the places while preparing material for the website.)

Gwyn

[squirrel]

I am sure that the regiment would be able to help with this sort of information. An enquiry through the London Regiment website ought to do it.

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Gwyn

Your facts are correct.

I supplied Graeme with his source document, a Defence Estates Organisation Publication which contains a good colour photo of the drill area and roof. I will scan this and post it here when I get home this evening.

Horseferry Road is the Territorial Army Centre, housing the headquarters of the London Scottish (Volunteer) Regiment. It includes part of the original drill hall built on a site in Buckingham Gate in 1886 to designs of John MacVicar Anderson but due to space limitations only three of the original five bays were relocated (1988). To create a large unbroken floor space the hall is spanned by arched cast-iron booms from which are suspended the partition walls and spectators' galleries, which house the regimental museum.

Regimental War Memorials are within the building, for photos of these see:

http://www.londonscottishregt.org/memorials.cfm

For other interior photos see:

http://www.londonscottishregt.org/museum.cfm#this

Dave

[HERITAGE PLUS]

I found a copy in the office:

[Dragon]

Excellent. Thanks! That's similar to the picture in the database.

Did anyone take any field shots of the ironwork or structure? So many drill halls have stunning architectural or structural features, often overlooked in the rush to demolish, which make every one unique.

Gwyn

[Deleted_pillboxman2002_*]

The picture at http://130902.myphotoalbum.com/view_album....bumName=album01 shows the Millfield building from the other end. Does this look more like the drill hall?

[montbrehain]

One thats gone!!! is the one that used to stand in Margam ave in Merry Oak , Southampton,And now years later Im kicking myself !!! It was demolished about 20 years ago and I (like a fool) Did,nt bother asking about the 2 portland stone badges that were set into the front of the hall.How i would like them now !!! about 3ft by 3ft one was the Hampshire badge ( cat and the cabbage ) with kings crown and the other was a 4th VB (or 7th) Battalion Hampshire regt badge of the "Dog Gauge". I have found out since then that my Gt Grandfather was in this battalion

[Dragon]

Does this look more like the drill hall?

Hello PBM

Thank you for sending me some pictures. Having examined the picture closely, I don't know.

There are some features which might suggest so, such as the fairly elaborate door and portico. A wide door was typical, to "admit the Volunteers in full marching order, four abreast" [Chester drill hall]. Other rooms were provided for numerous functions, including offices, storage, residential accommodation, armoury, leisure and self-improvement, fitness and catering.

Other features cast doubt in my mind, such as the type of brick and the lintels. The rustic-faced bricks seem to be later than the smoother sort used at the time of the Great War. (I suppose this sounds rather sad!)

On balance, I'm inclined to suggest that it's inter-war.

The Oracle isn't available for consultation at the moment so you're having to put up with his North West Correspondent. He might opine differently. As his post says, your building may post-date the others. Therefore, we need any information whatsoever positively to date this. Local libraries, photo archives and local newspapers usually are extremely helpful. Regiments are often not. If the drill hall is marked on a dated OS map that's evidence to confirm its status at a particular time. (For example, I found the demolished Mansfield one on a 1917 map last week.)

I'm sorry that I can't be more helpful at the moment.

Are there any signs of the drill hall that we know is Great War - the one which was on Queen Street?

Thanks for sharing this.

Gwyn

This post has been edited by Dragon: Jul 31 2006, 09:35 PM

[Dragon]

Hello Montbrehain

That, unfortunately, underlines the importance of the project. Communities and developers have been demolishing drill halls since 1920 and often afterwards communities realise what they've lost. In my limited experience I've visited two over the last two months which are boarded up for demolition (Eccles and Sutton-in-Ashfield) and I'm familiar with another which is under planning application for housing. It's saddening to see buildings erected with pride and celebration now waist high in weeds.

What Graeme has achieved is a massive database (about 3600 entries) in which these buildings are recorded in one place and photographed wherever possible (about 1000 photos so far, some gifted to him by much-appreciated contributors). We can at least e-save some of them.

I can't comment on Hampshire from personal knowledge (foreign parts to me!) but I bet it would be worth you trying to track down a picture. if you find one, let us know, please!

Even so, a negative is a positive in this sort of database, so thank you for your information.

Gwyn

[Dragon]

Does anyone have any information on the Millfield drill hall in Peterborough?

Hello PBM

I looked in the Archaeology Data Service for you. I suspect this might help towards answering your question, but I have to say that I’m not an expert; Graeme is.

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/fr....n=CBA_DOB-15601

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/d...cfm?REFNO=15601

The road addresses don't tie up. I don't know Peterborough at all, but the district is right. I'm just feeling around for an answer and I don't know what I'm on about really.

As I said in an email to you, I've sent an email to make an enquiry and I'll let you know when I get a reply.

I assume you're familiar with the Defence of Britain database, which is where the second link will take you.

Gwyn

[Dragon]

Hello PBM

Initial response is that local memory recalls that the Lincoln Road drill hall - the New Link centre - was built in the 1930s.

HTH

Gwyn

[BJay]

Hi

I have only just discovered this thread. I found a list the other day that gave details of the RAMC drill halls with addresses but with 27 pages I'm not sure if you already have them. I am happy to post them all or maybe you might be able to tell which ones you still need.

Barbara

[Dragon]

Hello Barbara

Thank you for the offer. I'm sending you a private message.

Gwyn

[Graeme Fisher]

The picture at http://130902.myphotoalbum.com/view_album....bumName=album01 shows the Millfield building from the other end. Does this look more like the drill hall?

Looks exactly like the front end of a drill hall, especially with that wide, low structure behind!

It looks a little late (1930s) in design, but I've been horribly wrong before... I'd love a copy of the picture for the database - I like to include all the 'maybes' as well as the 'definites'

Graeme

[Gibbo]

I've just found this thread & in a quick scan through it I couldn't see any mention of the University of Edinburgh Drill Hall. This is in Forest Hill, a small cul de sac off Forest Road in Edinburgh & behind the Sandy Bells pub. Earlier this evening I attended an excellent Fringe play called Black Watch about the regiment In Iraq which was held at this location. There was a rather dirty plaque above the entrance, which I couldn't read very much of as the queue shuffled inside. The building is apparently now part of the Uni's School of Informatics, which is a branch of computer science. I'm sure that when I was a student (1979-83) it was the mess of the OTC. I'll be in that part of town again later in the week & will take a picture of it.

[Gibbo]

Whilst searching for more information on the Uni Drill Hall, I discovered that the Drill Hall in Leith has been converted into artists' studios. It's in Dalmeny St & is B listed (letters rather than Roman numerals are used to denote listing in Scotland). I'm not in that area as often but I'll try & get down to take a picture of it.

Press release on conversion of former Drill Hall

[Dragon]

I'd love a copy of the picture for the database

Sorted already!

G