Heres one I got a photo of on my travels - ignore the strange females on the right they are with me.

It is the drill hall outside Pevensey & Westham rail station, E Sussex now in use as the Drill Hall Business Centre

All The Best

Chris

saw this on a caption for a painting in the Redoubt Military Museum, Eastbourne

Drill Hall, Middle St, Hastings HQ 5th (Cinque Ports) Bn Royal Sussex Regt built on the site of the old drill shed in 1895 & was in use until 1934

All The Best

Chris

Great photo, Chris!

According to my records, it provided a home for 6th Sussex Battery, 2nd Home Counties Brigade RFA.

And thanks for the info on Hastings.

Off to update the files....

Graeme

Graeme

Just confirming that the Knighton (mid-Wales) drill hall was definitely there in 1926 - see the attached scan from the '26 OS 15 inch map from Alan Godfrey.

Incidentally, the cenotaph (top of the map, right of centre) was moved a few years ago to the site of the old police station (now demolished) which is at the left of the map, centre.

Will get the photo when I'm there next.

Regards

Jim

date corrected to 1926 - Jim

Jim - that's marvellous.

A map is better than a memory, and these Alan Godfrey facsimilies are a wonderful resource to any local historian.

Thanks, A picture would be great, in the fullness of time.

Graeme

Graeme

I've done a bit of googling on drill halls and towns in the Welsh Marches region and come up with a number of existing and former drill halls in the region and elsewhere ( google works in a mysterious way ... )

Some with addresses:

Builth Wells, Powys------ Smithfield Road
Hay-on-Wye, Powys------ 25 Lion Street
Ross-on-Wye, Herefs------ Alton Lane
Bromyard, Herefs------ Kirkham Gardens
Welshpool, Powys------ Brook Street
Malvern, Worcs------ Albert Park Road
Oswestry, Shrops------ Willow Street
Horsham, W. Sussex ------ Denne Road
Newnham-on-Severn, Glos------ Church Road
Fordingbridge, Hants------ Bartons Road
Worcester------- Southfield Street
Truro, Cornwall------ New Bridge Street
Wigan-------- Powell Street
Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale ------ King Edward Road
Ashford, Kent------ Newton Road (1)
Ledbury, Herefs------ New Street
Leominster, Herefs------ 23 New Street(2)
Shaftesbury, Dorset------ Victoria Street
Carlisle-------- Strand Road(3)
Lincoln-------- Free School Lane
Menai Bridge, Gwynedd------ Dale Street(4)
Holyhead, Gwynedd------ Maeshyfryd Road
Holywell, Clwyd------ Halkyn Street
Plympton, Devon------ 13-15 Ridge Park Road

Some without:

Dolgellau, Gwynedd
Llanfyllin, Powys(5)
Machynlleth, Powys
Chepstow, Gwent
Peebles
Church Stretton, Shrops(6)
Droitwich, Worcs(7)
Hednesford, Staffs(8)

Notes:

(1) the old Buffs Drill Hall, demolished 1996 to make way for the International Rail Terminal apparently
(2) listed in 1913 Kellys; built 1750 as borough gaol
(3) built as drill hall 1873, opened as sports centre 1969
(4) Gwyn has photographed this one I believe
(5) Gwyn has said that this one has been demolished; it is now apparently the site of Llanfyllin Town Hall
(6) from British History Online: in 1885, drill hall in the Lion Yard; in 1967 the "drill hut" near the railway station was demolished.
(7) from the Droitwich Spa Rotary website: in 1955 the Old Drill hall was in use, but since demolished.
(8) from the Cannock Chase History Soc. website Who's Who: Col. Robert Summerside Williamson (1859-1933) in 1895 ."raised an appeal and funded the buliding of a Drill Hall at Hednesford ... "

I'm sure you must have some of these, but hope that some of this info is new and helps your project.

Best regards,

Jim

My information about Llanfyllin came from a member of the Royal Welch Fusiliers staff who lives near there.

Is it possible that the one to which you refer is post-Great War or even more recent?

It is marked on the Map of TA units and sub-units in North Wales 1956 - 1959 (Regimental Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers 1945 - 2000, Volume VI, 1945 -1969, pub RWF 2001, page 260), but not on the Map of TA units and sub-units in North Wales 1947-1949 (op cit p 83).

Gwyn

Lincoln

I’ve been privileged to be given an amazing range of material on Lincoln Drill Hall, some of which is not in the public domain, after I made some contacts following a visit to photograph it in August 2004.

I’ll attach two of my own photos of this wonderful building, which has now been converted into an arts centre. I admire the conversion immensely and the way in which the architect rose to the many challenges he faced. I can add more of my own pictures if there’s any interest.

One shows the front

Picture removed by me

Click to view attachment

and in the other, I liked the organic development of the rear elevation among its surroundings.

Picture removed by me


Click to view attachment

Gwyn

If it is a pic. of the Cenotaph you want, here is a copy.

I an also let you have pics of all the faces on this monument. Alternatively go to the Roll of Honour project.

I can also let you have many more in the former Radnorshire area and can also do those close by.

I think there is a danger of duplication of effort in some instances.

Martin

Jim - there's some good stuff here. You're right, I have a lot of it, but theres some good bits to go on. But you'll recognise that a Google search often comes up with just an address, or an obscure reference. And that's the challenge. Turn the reference into the reality, the place they marched away from, never to return. The building that was the point where they spent pre-war nights training, Saturday nights dancing, built with funds from the local community.

It's history, forgotten. Hence the project.

Thanks for this, Jim. Bet you got sidetracked.......

Graeme

Martin

I'm happy to leave the memorials to you.

But it's nice to know that the Cenotaph was moved and saved, even though it appears to lean....

I have no interest in the memorils to the dead; the drill hall project, by its' nature, includes all those who came before, those who fell and those who returned. But it's not about the men.

That's a subject ably and comprehensively covered by others like you.

I'm more interested in the units, the architecture, and the buildings' value within the community. As the bulldozers go to work, I'm commemorating the other 'fallen'. Our brave lads are recorded locally and nationally, but their drill hals are forgotten.

Graeme

Graeme,

With a bit of luck, this link will take you to the Buckinghamshire Archives website, which has a marvellous collection of old photographs online, sorted by place name. Clicking below should take you to an old photo of the Drill Hall in Wolverton.

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/photo_database/p...p?Counter=22704

Thanks Kate.

A fab photo.

Is it me or does it look like it was built by drunkards? The perspective's sort of wrong!

I'll lose a couple of hours trawling the rest of the site cos it looks interesting!

Thanks again

Graeme

Graeme

It's just so easy to get sidetracked isn't it, and yes I did! If there's something here worth following up though, it's worth it.

And though it's not pertinent to your project, it was nice for an old Knighton lad to see Burlington's photo of the Knighton cenotaph on your thread.

Best wishes as ever,

Jim

Hello Gwyn

My google "hit" on Llanfyllin came from this site- another very worthy research cause. It's not clear how "old" the "old drill hall" might have been, but it could well have been post WW2, I guess, as your info indicates.

By the way, regarding Lincoln - ain't she a beauty! It's so good to know that what appears to be such a grand, idiosyncratic building is preserved and used at least for the foreseeable future.

Best regards

Jim

Hello, Jim

Used, yes indeed! This is one of my interior photos, compressed for the web. It also has a nice performance space. The brickwork is gorgeous (does that make me too sad?!).

Click to view attachment

I don't know what the fact is about Llanfyllin; I was relying on the information the person told me. Will inquire...

Gwyn

Picture removed by me.

Jim, this is Holywell, or Trefynnon, taken yesterday.

Click to view attachment

The stone plaque over the door identifies it as the Territorial Drill Hall and dates it as 1914.

I have compressed for the web; Graeme has several better quality photos.

Gwyn

Picture removed by me.

And is, as always, truly grateful for them.

Thanks, Gwyn.

Graeme

Gwyn

Another nice pic of a lovely building, don't you think?

Jim

Imagine a time when the stories of the enlistment, or the exploits, or the wounds or the dying and deaths of these lads should say of each that before he went into the army, he spent his evenings training at such and such a drill hall.

‘Tis as relevant and as important. In my opinion.

Gwyn

And the halls represent the physical monuments to the guys that went AND came back - but are, now, no longer with us.

'tis an important legacy. And one which this war memorial researcher needs to remember more often.

John

Precisely, John.

They may not bear the names of the fallen, but they hold many ghosts....

Graeme

Graeme,

I've not been able to read all the posts in this long thread, so forgive me if this sugestion has been made before. I was looking at an on-line version of "Kelly's 1913 Surrey directory" for other reasons, and noticed ALL the drill halls in Surrey at that time where listed and the names of officers, drill serjeants etc. The directory can be found at http://www.historicaldirectories.org/

Incidently, if you are ever given a photo of the drill hall at 17 St.George's Road Wimbledon please let me know, because that's where my Grandad enlisted on 11 Nov 1914.


Regards,
Chris.

PS I've attached a page for Kingston.

Chris

Thanks for mentioning Kelly's Directories.

They have been invaluable in my research (and mighty distracting, as mentioned in another Kellys thread on the Forum).

The historicaldirectories.org site is a marvellous resource, and I'm glad you've brought it to the fore.

I don't have a picture of Wimbledon yet, but if one comes up I'll let you know.

Thanks!

Graeme

Graeme

The Drill Hall, Faversham, Kent

Dave

And the hall itself

Some people are just too kind!

Big thanks, Dave.

Graeme

Graeme,

Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me when I visited Wellingborough last week, which was a shame, for besides wanting to show you a photo of the Drill Hall with estate agents' signs on it, there was a wonderful copper war memorial which had been rescued from a skip in the nearby Leighton Coach House.

Anyway, here is some info on the Drill Hall from Welly Council:

"New Community Use For Drill Hall
10 June 2005

The former Drill Hall in High Street Wellingborough was acquired in 2004 by the Borough Council of Wellingborough as part of the 7 acre comprehensive development area defined in the Local Plan – of which the Council owns some 6 acres.

A project is underway using external consultants to bring forward a Supplementary Planning Document for inclusion within the new plan for the Borough as a guiding statement for how the site should be developed.

In the meantime the Council is making determined efforts to ensure its own properties are fully utilised and not left vacant in the run-up to any development.

Following a widespread marketing campaign by Messrs Underwoods, a letting has just been completed with the Daylight Centre Fellowship (DCF) for a term of five years.

The intention is to use the property, comprising over 15,000 sq ft, as a centre for mixed community uses including, advice centre, education and training. DCF will act as an umbrella organisation sharing occupation with other appropriate groups and services.

Alan Harland, a consultant to DCF said “The Trustees are very pleased that the Council decided a strategy to bring this property back into use after vacation by the Territorial Army and are delighted that DCF has been awarded the lease. DCF are in talks with a number of organisations that will start to use the centre during July, and it will move its own day centre into the building towards the end of August 2005”.

DCF is always keen to engage in recycling, and any organisation that has surplus equipment in good condition can contact Mr Harland by e-mail alan.harland@ntlworld.com. Mr Harland says “The building is empty at present and we need furniture and other equipment for training rooms, offices and a cafe to turn this building into an excellent resource for Wellingborough.

If you require further information please contact either Mr Bob Entwistle, Director, Technical & Leisure Services – 01933 231700 or Mr Alan Harland of the Daylight Centre Fellowship at 66 High Street, Weston Favell, Northampton NN3 3JX - Mobile: 07752 647 208"

The old drill hall in Elgin, Moray, located in Cooper Park is now the library. If I remember rightly there is a memorial plaque on the outside. Not lived up there for nearly 4 years now, so the memory is a bit fuzzy.

Can somebody please tell me if there are drill halls in brandon, suffolk or thetford, norfolk, and, if so, from which year they date and where they are located. Many thanks.

Kelly's Directory of 1912 lists ‘4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment (part of G Co.)’ in Brandon but nothing more; I have a suspicion the drill hall may have been in Thetford Road.

Thetford has 4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, (Detachment of G Co.) listed at the Guildhall, and 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Norfolk Regiment, (D Co.) at Station road.

Any more information would be fab.

Thanks

Graeme

Thanks to Kate and cartoss for input -

apologies for the delay in responding, i'm just back after a fortnight of liver abuse in the Dordogne...

Graeme,

Judging by your post elsewhere, I think the abuse was to livers other than your own.

Quackers!

Thanks for your repsonse. I have another question, but am unsure of whether I'm supposed to enquire here in this way. Apologies if I'm wasting anyones time, or misusing this forum, but 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? Also, I'll be visiting llanberies shortly. I've no idea if there is a hall there, but as I may have time to look, wondered if there is any reference in your database. Thanks again and please let me know if requesting info on specific halls here is in any way inappropriate

Hello pillboxman

Do you mean Llanberis, Gwynedd?

The Great War drill hall in Llanberis has been demolished and a replacement was built on its site in the 1920s. Its address is The Old Station.

This information came from a helpful contact in Llanberis, who took its photograph for me.

I believe that the Llanberis drill hall was used by the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

I can only speak for my experience, but if you trawl back a page or three you’ll find a description by me of the problems in trying to find locations. I have found universally that even the army doesn’t know where these buildings were. A few people know something here and there, and that’s about it.

Graeme has painstakingly created a massive, impressive database which covers most of the UK. He’s the best person to answer your question.

Gwyn

I saw this address today in a flyer from the music label Independiente which came inside a CD I bought:

Independiente
The Drill Hall
3 Heathfield Terrace
Chiswick
London
W4 4JE

T: +44 (0) 20 8747 8111
F: +44 (0) 20 8747 8113
E: firstname@independiente.co.uk

Wonder which unit the drill hall originally belonged to?
Charles

You might well ask, Charles.

My database has no entries for Chiswick, and I'll be contacting these people to enquire forthwith.

Thanks for the tipoff.

Graeme

Graeme/Charles

In 1900 Chiswick 'C' Company of the 2nd (South) Middlesex Rifle Volunteers were drilling at Hogarth School, Chiswick. Possibly pre-dating the drill hall?

300 plus men from the 2nd Middlesex transferred into the 'new' 10th. Batt. Middlesex Regt.in 1908.

Button illustration below.

Dave

Thanks Dave.

It's snippets like this that fill so many gaps and make it much easier to start looking for something.

Thanks again

Graeme

I have a vague reference to an address in Oakham of Penn street - I can't lay my hands on the source of that at the moment, so can't comment on whether it's current (i.e. modern-day drill hall) or refers to premises used by B Co. 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, such as the local town hall. Such places were often used in lieu of a 'proper' drill hall.
Any further info on Oakham drill hall would be welcome, and this is certainly the right place to ask for assistance. (Until the website's up and running - watch this space...)

Graeme

I made a pleasing discovery at the St Helens Drill Hall a few days ago: given that it is still in use by the Sea Cadets, there are several notice boards mounted on the wall outside. One, being slightly larger that the others, caught my eye. Across the top, covered in many coats of blue paint, the legend '5th Battalion (Prince of Wales's Volunteers') is clearly visible.

The Battalion ceased to exist under that designation in 1938, which neatly dates this notice board as being at least 67 years old. The thought that it is of Great War vintage, perhaps having once had casualty lists affixed to it, is giving me tingles.

My camera is broken at the moment, but I'll post a pic as soon as I can get one.

Ste

Thanks, Ste, that would be brill.

Nice that it gives you a buzz, next time think of the lads who never saw it again, and those who came back full of the horrors of war.
I bet they'd pause otside and remember....

Graeme

If anyones interested in photos of Alford Drill Hall as used by the 5th Lincolns please contact me.

I have an excellent image digitised and ready to be emailed now.

Steve.

Steve, the drill hall database would love any images you have!

Thanks

Graeme

This is Abergavenny Drill Hall as mentioned in my question in Chit Chat. I said I'd post its picture.

I didn't include the front elevation here as it might have been seen as an advertisement for the business using the premises. Graeme has a full set of photographs.

Thanks, Tafski, for your information about the cinema proposal.

Gwyn

Picture removed by me.

Good luck with your project, Graeme. You know you have my full support behind the scenes and I will carry on doing what has been planned. It is a fantastic , valuable project and deserves every success.

As I have expressed elsewhere, there is no place for me on the Forum any longer and I will not be adding to your thread.

Gwyn

I'd like to take the opportunity to publicly thank Gwyn for being a very supportive member of the Forum, a clever and prolific contibutor to many threads, especially this one, and a friend.

My project, within the Forum, will be poorer by her departure.

Pity.

Graeme

Is there a drill hall in keswick?

There certainly was. I'm not sure if it still exists, but it was listed in Kelly's Directories of 1901 and 1914, as the head quarters of the [right half] C Co. of the 4th Territorial Force (Cumberland & Westmorland) Battalion The Border Regiment; the drill hall is in Southey street.’
The premises were also known as The Volunteer Assembly Rooms, in Southey street, the property of the Drill Hall Co. It had accommodation for about 800.


If anyone could confirm its existence or demise, I'd be grateful

Graeme