Drill halls Options

[Dragon]

Wonderful, Roger and thank you for sending the originals by email. I'll pass them on to Graeme.

Someone took trouble over the expressed brickwork - it dresses up a simple building rather nicely.

Gwyn

[roger]

Your very welcome and as I said earlier if there is anything else I can assist with in this area please let me know.

Roger

[Charles Fair]

Gwyn, Graeme, Nice to see Cornwall up on the website, now that I know where to look I will see what I can find when I am down there next month. I will be staying near Gweek, so hope to find the DS there.

[Dragon]

Thank you, Charles. 12 drill stations, 29 drill halls and 56 images later.......

Huge public thanks for your input into Kent. I'm certain the Folkestone section will be a particularly interesting one when we've assimilated the information.

Gwyn

[pbrydon]

 P6060718.JPG ( 45.36K ) Number of downloads: 0


In all probability somebody has already posted photos of this drill hall in Kings Road,Whalley Range, Trafford, Greater Manchester( Presumably in Manchester pre 1974 ),but the building has not only the inscription" Royal Army Medical Corps ( Vols )" above the front door,but futher above that the Manchester Coat of Arms and further up still the badge of the R.A.M.C.

I dont know if this might have been the headquaters of the Duke of Lancasters Own Yeomanry at one time ( someone will know ) but the icing on the cake is that today ( 6/6/07 ) it remains the home of a unit of R.A.M.C ( T.A.)

P.B

Please E mail me if you would like some more photos

[pbrydon]

 P6060719.JPG ( 59.28K ) Number of downloads: 2


Couple more photos added
P.B.

 P6060721.JPG ( 63.16K ) Number of downloads: 0


Last one.
P.B.

[vbeach]

Dear Graeme
I'm very pleased to have come across this discussion on Drill Halls - my grandfather was Company Sergeant Major in the Northumberland Fusiliers and lived at the Drill Hall in Gosforth after the 1st WW. I need to have a close look at all the messages and your website, but I certainly have a photograph taken of my mother outside the Drill Hall in 1920s and we visited it a few years ago as it is still standing.
Kind regards
Lyn

[CROONAERT]

Graeme/Gwyn.

I've just heard that the old Clifton Street Militia Barracks (which was one of the several places used as a drill hall prior to the erection of a dedicated drill hall in 1914) in Burnley is soon to be totally wiped. There hasn't been much left of it for a few decades to be honest - just the perimeter wall, entrance gate, and stone sentry box. Do you need a picture of this before it's too late, or would this be just outside the scope of your project?

Dave

[Dragon]

Dave- yes, please. It's much better to have pictures now than wish we had afterwards. (I'm hoping to get Lancashire online by the end of July, by the way.)

Lyn - thank you for making contact. We haven't yet prepared Northumberland for uploading, so you won't find it on the website yet. We would be really interested in anything that you wished to share.

PB - thanks for those photos; it looks as if you had a excellent weather. I've never been to that DH though I must have been in the vicinity loads of times. I think Graeme has seen it though. If you're willing to email copies to one of us, that would be great. It's lovely to see the building's identity marked so proudly.

Thank you all.

Gwyn

[pbrydon]

Gwyn,
I have send Graeme copies of the pictures by seperate E mail,like you I have been close to this drill hall on many many occasions but only went past it 2 weeks ago. I took the pictures the day I posted them on Wednesday ( 6/6/07 ) amazing how better photos turn out when the sun is shining.
P.B.

[pbrydon]

I have always understood that Barracks were buildings where soldiers( usually regulars ) actually lived with dormitories,canteens,kitchens etc,but I have noticed that a number of Territorial Drill Halls are called barracks.

An example being the" Brigadier Phillip Toosey Barracks " current H.Q. of 208 Battery R.A.(V) The liverpool Gunners in Aigburth Liverpool.( Thanks to Daggers ) This building has always I am certain been occupied by the Territorials

There is a bigger building in Mather Avenue Liverpool built for the 38th(The Kings Regt)AA Bn R.E.,T.A. which was called the New Drill Hall on the opening programme in June 1938. So size does not seem to be a factor.

Could it be that if at some time the buildings were renamed, to call them the........ "Barracks" sounds better than the........"Drill Hall"

Trivia I know,but I have often wondered about this.

P.B.

[stormin]

Drill Hall in Keighley - Lawcolme Lane - still used I think, will try to get you a photo

Stormin

[Graeme Fisher]

Drill Hall in Keighley - Lawcolme Lane - still used I think, will try to get you a photo

Stormin

Thanks Stormin

Much appreciated

Graeme

[Graeme Fisher]

I have always understood that Barracks were buildings where soldiers( usually regulars ) actually lived with dormitories,canteens,kitchens etc,but I have noticed that a number of Territorial Drill Halls are called barracks.

An example being the" Brigadier Phillip Toosey Barracks " current H.Q. of 208 Battery R.A.(V) The liverpool Gunners in Aigburth Liverpool.( Thanks to Daggers ) This building has always I am certain been occupied by the Territorials

There is a bigger building in Mather Avenue Liverpool built for the 38th(The Kings Regt)AA Bn R.E.,T.A. which was called the New Drill Hall on the opening programme in June 1938. So size does not seem to be a factor.

Could it be that if at some time the buildings were renamed, to call them the........ "Barracks" sounds better than the........"Drill Hall"

Trivia I know,but I have often wondered about this.

P.B.

You're right about the barracks thing, Peter.

But it does suggest a dormitory for regular soldiers, a proper military installation. Hillsborough Barracks in Sheffield was a huge place with laundries and chapels and all sorts, and sufficient storage for water to accommodate the surplus they have up there at the moment.

Drill hall, however, suggests a place with a sole purpose, a bit like tennis court. Turn up, drill for a couple of hours, go home.

The truth is somewhat different, with dances, exhibitions, banquets, boxing, lectures, all sorts. The drill hall generally became a part of the community, where everyone could meet socially at some event or another, the Volunteers or Territorials only having use at cetain times.

Barracks suggest a purely military use.

Graeme

[Charles Fair]

Can't believe this thread has been quiet for so long!

Just back from latest trip to Cornwall. The staff at the Cornwall Studies Centre in Alma St Redruth were very helpful. I have maps showing 8 DHs which I will photo and email in due course. Didnt have time to look at their photo archive though.

I have already sent you both photos by email, but pertinent new finds for the wider readership are as follows:

1.) I think I have found the Penryn DH. It is at the bottom of a street called Bohill St. The arrow points to it here:

click here
I asked the people on duty in the Penryn museum who thought they knew the building. They though that either before or after it was a DH it had been a chapel. It is now a private house. Next time I get to the Redruth I will find OS maps which will hopefully confirm.

2) I also found the Camborne DH at Wheal Gerry which one of your sources refers to as a barracks.

From the map it appears to have been a long triangular site on North Roskear Road – much more like a barracks. The old stone buildings on the E end of the site appear to have now passed into private ownership – 6846 shows the pointy e end of the site. The centre of the site is now used by an industry – some sort of bus or truck depot. Now just the eastern 1/3 of the site is occupied by a more recent (1920s/30s?) cream coloured DH which is still used by the Light Infantry.

3) I found the DH in Hayle. The address is 7, Hayle Terrace and it was built in 1911.

Marazion must have the finest view anywhere - glorious view of Mount's Bay!

Charles

[Charles Fair]

I should add that I was in the Guildhall Library a few weeks back looking at the City of London TF minutes 1907-14. Lots of fsacinating stuff about the various DHs and the problems with leasing, financing etc and switching ownership from the Volunteers to the TF. Many of the Volunteer DHs were not fit for purpose for the TF. I will forward images in due course.

[Graeme Fisher]

A big thankyou, Charles, for the time, effort and images.

They will, of course, make a welcome addition to the project, and a number will enrich our www.drillhalls.org website in the fullness of time. There's a lot of preparation behind the scenes there to try to upload as many counties as we can at the moment.

And as for Mount's Bay - we stopped in a B&B in Marazion years ago, right in the middle of the village, and our bedroom window opened out onto St Michael's Mount. Perfect!

I'm intrigued by the Guildhall Library stuff. Bring it on!

Graeme

[JPG]

Hi Graeme

fascinating project. I have just checked the website for Lichfield and you might want to add this in.

The Drill Hall in Frog Lane was demolished in April 1969

38 Tamworth Street was the Staffordshire Yeomanry Territorial Headquarters from 1905-1914 and there is a picture of the building before the frontage was altered in the early 1960's. It is held by the Historical Monuments Commission in London

The Lichfield City Band practiced in Drill Hall on Tuesdays, though not sure on dates as the band began in 1910

Lastly, I may be able to get my hands on a copy of the demolition in time.

I hope this is of some use

JPG

[Kath]

Penryn Drill Hall grid ref:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=17...;z=3&dn=699

http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm21003

Google: Drill hall & Penryn or Cornwall.
Kath.

[Graeme Fisher]

Penryn Drill Hall grid ref:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=17...;z=3&dn=699

http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm21003

Google: Drill hall & Penryn or Cornwall.
Kath.

Thanks, Kath.

It's always nice to have a 'here it is' rather than a 'somewhere near'.

I like the idea that they saw the drill hall as a permanent and long-term structure for the mark!

Graeme

[Graeme Fisher]

Hi Graeme

fascinating project. I have just checked the website for Lichfield and you might want to add this in.

The Drill Hall in Frog Lane was demolished in April 1969

38 Tamworth Street was the Staffordshire Yeomanry Territorial Headquarters from 1905-1914 and there is a picture of the building before the frontage was altered in the early 1960's. It is held by the Historical Monuments Commission in London

The Lichfield City Band practiced in Drill Hall on Tuesdays, though not sure on dates as the band began in 1910

Lastly, I may be able to get my hands on a copy of the demolition in time.

I hope this is of some use

JPG

Nice one, JPG.

Are you a resident of the city of my birth?

There's some great information here. A copy of anything would be brilliant.

Thanks

Graeme

[JPG]

Hi Graeme,

I am a born and bred Lichfieldian. I could have done with speaking with you when I did my first book on Lichfield. It was about the shops and businesses from 1850 - date. I am working on the city in WW1 now and crossing with the memorials throughout the place and this site and the members have been very helpful
I have located something about the memorial tablet at the LRO and I will write it up on here tomorrow.

John

[rogerpopeye]

Nice one, JPG.

Are you a resident of the city of my birth?

There's some great information here. A copy of anything would be brilliant.

Thanks

Graeme

Hi there Graeme,

Whilst quiet at work last night I have searched out 3 more drill halls for you, 2 in Halifax + Wellesley barracks which where the Regimental H.Q's of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, and 1 in Ilkley West Yorkshire, which during the course of the next 2/3 weeks I will get you some photo's, unless they have already been done.

Cheers Roger.

[JPG]

Graeme, I found this item about the Drill Hall Tablet

A commemorative tablet to the men of E Coy 6 NS regt (TA) was designed and executed for Major C Longstaff by R Bridgeman & Sons and erected in the Drill Hall in 1937.
Upon demolition it was removed for safe keeping to premises occupied by the British Royal Legion in Beacon Street where it remained until 1983, when due it enforced vacation it was placed in the Guildhall, such having served as the headquarters of the company from its inception upon the reorganisation of the volunteer forces in 1908.

Re-sited in 13.11.83 in presence of one of the surviving members and families of other men

John

[Dragon]

Hello John

I'll extract the information and amend Lichfield's page, though it won't be this week as we've got a county to upload and something else requiring some thought for a deadline in the first week of August. Thank you very much. I don't know Lichfield, having been there only twice; is the Guildhall in Lichfield and is the plaque still there?

Hello Roger

Great; thank you! Graeme will know accurately what is in the image bank for Yorkshire; I don't know without looking at it. We'll let you know so you can decide what to do. I wouldn't want you to feel your time had been wasted. All photographic evidence is very welcome.

Sorry, I wasn't thinking clearly in my initial response.

Thank you both for your support.

Gwyn

This post has been edited by Dragon: Jul 25 2007, 12:57 AM