Drill halls Options

[JPG]

Dragon,

glad to be of service in some way.

The Guildhall is certainly there and I will visit and get a photograph if you like. They have another tablet in there I need to see at some time for my own interest.

Two extra bits...

Lichfield Hall had a range there for the Miniature Rifle Club

It was still in use in September 1960

John

[JPG]

A further bit of information about Walsall Drill Hall.

I suppose it is better to have the information than not and you can decide.

November 30 1901. The 4th South Staffs were presented with South African War Medals at the Hall by Lord Dartmouth.

John

[Dragon]

The way I see it is that while I personally might not have any particular interest in a snippet of information, you never know whether it will be a valuable piece in a jigsaw for a descendant. So, if it's drill hall specific, we try to include as much detail as we can, given the limits of the medium, and the evidence has been that visitors to the website get in touch if they think we might have something they need.

And often that sparks off a trail which can lead to some surprising and exciting discoveries.

Thank you, John.

Gwyn

[Graeme Fisher]

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

That's great, John.

Thanks

Graeme

[Graeme Fisher]

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.

Great offer Roger.

I'll never say no to a picture (or an address), but I don't think we have either Halifax or Ilkley, so a big yes please!

Cheers

Graeme

[Edgie]

Another 1 for you.

The 1st East Anglian Field Ambulance was based at the Drill Hall Woodbridge road Ipswich and is st there, although it is no longer a drill hall
and most of the men then went on the to join the 11th Field Ambulance in France.

[Dragon]

Edgie, thank you very much for letting us know that the DH on Woodbridge road is extant. What is it used for now, please? I can then add that updated information to the Ipswich page on the website.

If there is any chance you could take a picture if you're passing, that would be brilliant, as we haven't got a picture for any of Ipswich's drill halls.

Gwyn

[rogerpopeye]

Great offer Roger.

I'll never say no to a picture (or an address), but I don't think we have either Halifax or Ilkley, so a big yes please!

Cheers

Graeme

Hi there Graeme,
Providing the weather holds up I should be able to do one or the other tomorrow,
Halifax as one at Prescott Street, the other was or is at Arden Road.

Did you know there was a question asked in parliment in 2003 about the sell off as they call them TAC and the answer was there was 115 to be done.

Cheers Roger.

[Dragon]

Yes. The sell off gets worse if you look at the most recent 2007 list, which includes Faversham (Listed) and some other heritage properties. I'll find the link to the document and post it if I can. Some are worth fighting for and we're considering having a Drill Halls At risk page on the website. At present we're making representations to planners about one in another county.

Gwyn

[JPG]

Graeme/Gwyn

have a look at this on EBay(230154858419). A postcard of Salford Drill Hall.

John

[rogerpopeye]

Hi there Gwyn,

Thanks for bringing me forward in time, I'm not much good at trawlinf tinternet really.

I am going to take some photos for Graeme and the forum at Halifax and Ilkley, Halifax (Prescott Street) as already been converted into flats and apartments, and the one at Ilkley as been converted into business units.

At the end of the day I would rather see that than demolition.

The photo's I took at Wakefield last week where a reflection on the sorry state of derelition, although I understand that there might be plans to develop the whole area so it looks like a demolition job might be on the cards.

Cheers Roger.

[JPG]

Just had a look at this website because Rugeley is nearby and the following picture of Rugeley Drill Hall appeared

http://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/e...p?resource=6240

John

[rogerpopeye]

Hi there John,
Brilliant photo that, but typical waiting for ages for a bus then two come at once, and i hope there was not a fire otherwise that scene would become very busy(lol).

Cheers Roger.

[Edgie]

Edgie, thank you very much for letting us know that the DH on Woodbridge road is extant. What is it used for now, please? I can then add that updated information to the Ipswich page on the website.

If there is any chance you could take a picture if you're passing, that would be brilliant, as we haven't got a picture for any of Ipswich's drill halls.

Gwyn

It is now used as The Ipswich Caribbean Association International Community Centre.
Will try and dig up a photo of it if i can.

[Glesga Keelie]

Sadly the old drill hall of the 9th Battalion Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Highlanders) in Greendyke Street was demolished about 12 years ago and I was able to get this photo of it several months before the demolition.

[Dragon]

Great stuff, Glesga Keelie. Some of the most poignant pictures we have were taken by people who had the foresight to record a drill hall before it was lost, even at the point of demolition. This one seems to have been quite striking. Did you take a picture of the crest?

I tried to send you a PM, but your inbox is full, apparently.

Thanks for sharing.

Gwyn

[Glesga Keelie]

Great stuff, Glesga Keelie. Some of the most poignant pictures we have were taken by people who had the foresight to record a drill hall before it was lost, even at the point of demolition. This one seems to have been quite striking. Did you take a picture of the crest?


I did get a photo of it Gwyn but not all that distinctive I am afraid...it was demolished by friends of mine who didn't think to contact me regards the crest and as far as we know all the rubble was used to fill in several old docks on the Clyde.

[Dragon]

It was important to the men who passed through the drill hall and the community who knew it. Crests establish the authenticity and authority of the building; the crest is architectural and archaeological proof of its origins both for us and for generations who come afterwards. It's a terrible shame when they are not removed for safe keeping if a drill hall is demolished.

Happily you had the foresight to record it for posterity. So many are just lost. Thanks for sharing it.

I've sent you a PM.

Cheers

Gwyn

[Glesga Keelie]

Here is another view of the 9th H.L.I. Drill Hall which used to be in Greendyke Street.

[Dragon]

Thank you for sharing your pictures, GK and for allowing us to have them for the Drill Hall project.

All safely received and stored. Thanks!

Gwyn

This post has been edited by Dragon: Aug 5 2007, 09:04 PM

[rogerpopeye]

Morning Gwyn,

Yesterday I went out and photographed Ilkley, Settle and 2 drill halls in Hailfax, in total around 24 images, unfortunatley I cant reduce themfor the forum, if I attach to an e-mail would it be better if I do it in 4 lots for you.

Cheers Roger.

[Dragon]

Public thanks to you and Mrs Popeye for spending your day on a hall trawl. You're a star! All images safely and gratefully received.

Gwyn

[Bill E]

The Drill Hall at Oldham has not yet been demolished but it is to be shortly. I will photograph it for you.

[rogerpopeye]

Hi there Gwyn,

I have found another at Holmfith but some body as already done it and they have given some sort of right of use to copy it.

I found it by using Google Drill Halls @ huddersfield and it was the first hit.

There is one in the middle of Huddersfield which i think forms part of the TAVR, so I will pop on there probably this next weekend and have a look.

Cheers Roger.

[Dragon]

Bill - yes please! We would be very grateful. What is the site to be used for?

Roger - we have Holmfirth - someone generously sent it to Graeme in July. I'll check Huddersfield.

I can see we're going to have to get Yorkshire online in the near future. I feel a bit awed at the thought of preparing it for the website as it's such a huge county! (As is Lancashire, too. We have some wonderful material for Lancashire.)

Cheers

Gwyn