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

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

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?

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

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

Graeme

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.

Click to view 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.

Nick,

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

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

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.

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

I found a copy in the office:

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hello Barbara

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

Gwyn

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

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.

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

Sorted already!

G

Sorry, I tried to post a picture of the Edinburgh Uni Drill Hall but it was too big. I'll retake it at the weekend using a different format.

I don't know if this will help. It's not a photo, but a declaration-dedication of the opening of the new Drill Hall in Morley, near Leeds. [1912] [I'm typing, because I'm useless at scanning and posting]

TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
MORLEY
3rd May, 1912


Morley Detachment of the 4th King's Own Yorks. Light Infantry.

OPENING OF NEW DRILL HALL

Dear Sir,
I am desired by the Mayor to inform you of the arrangements for the Opening of the New Drill Hall, which has recently been erected in Ackroyd Street, Morley.

The Hall is to be Opened on Saturday, May 11th, at 3 o'clock, by GENERAL BALDOCK and other distinguished Officers are expected to be present.

The Officers and Men of the Local Territorial Corps will meet at the Town Hall, at 2-30, leaving in Procession at 3 o'clock, in the following order:-

The Battalion Band.
The Morley Detachment.
Representatives of Public Bodies.
Magistrates.
Members of the Town Council.
General Baldock and Official Guests.
Visiting Mayors.
The Mayor of Morley.

The route will be kept by the Boy Scouts.

On arrival at the Hall Major Maggs will ask General Baldock to open the building.

The Architect will present to General Baldock a Silver Key.

General Baldock will declare the Building open, and those taking part in the Procession will enter the Hall.

The Mayor will preside.

A Vote of Thanks to General Baldock will be proposed and seconded.

After the Opening Ceremony the Procession will be reformed in the above order and will return to the Town Hall.



[Leeds Central Library: 'Scrapbooks relating to Morley [Misc] No. 268': LM827 [942]]

I hope this helps, and the next time I'm up in Morley, I'll have a look to see if the Drill Hall still stands-unless someone has already replied, of course.

Kind Regards,
Dave

Hello Dave

Thank you for sharing this. It highlights how much importance was attached by even the smallest towns to having the prestige of a drill hall and I've read several reports of various processions and exciting civic occasions to mark their openings. Winsford, in 1901, celebrated with a large procession, with two bands and numbers of carriages of VIPs, followed by ticket-only tea for a shilling then a dance for two shillings and sixpence which went on till 3 am. Congleton, in 1905, held a three day bazaar in which the entire drill hall was decorated to look like an army camp, complete with tents.

Today towns happily demolish them for car parks, supermarkets and apartments without a moment's thought for their history as part of the built heritage, valuable reminders of the wars which affected so much of the twentieth century. I have newpaper cuttings in which townspeople ask afterwards, 'Why did we let this happen?'

As you know the exact date, it might be worth someone contacting the local newspaper archives and asking whether they have a report of the occasion.

Many thanks for going to the trouble of typing this out. I've sent you a private message.

A photo would be excellent, if possible. I don't know what there is in the Database without looking it up, but as no two photos are the same, we're able to include several images of each building on its webpage.

Gwyn

Hi Gwyn,
I'm sure you're probably aware of the 'LEODIS DATABASE', but I thought you might be interested in the thread I've posted on 'Soldiers' [mm45-Officers Died: 8th E. Yorks]

There are also some photos that may be of use to 'Drills'.

St. James's Street [City Centre]
Leeds Rifles Review, Oxford Street [City Centre]
Ackroyd Street [Morley]
Queen Street Civic Procession [Morley]
T.A. Parade [Morley]

I'm sorry if you've already come across these, but it's as much about the 'blurb' as the photos themselves.

Regards,
Dave

Thank you, Dave. I've followed these up and sent you an email.

Gwyn

The fledgling site promised in this thread nearly four years ago has become reality.

With an immense amount of help from Gwyn, drillhalls.org has been launched.

There's so much to be done; we have a twelve month programme of counties to be loaded, references to be checked and credits to be given.

But there's some interesting stuff there for now.

Have a look and let us know.

It would never have got this far without my friends from the Forum.

Graeme

Graeme

Congratulations, mate. You must be well chuffed to see it "on show" at last.

I'm sure it will quickly become an invaluable resource for people who will see that, in many cases, the drill hall is the only tangible memorial to those who survived and came home.

Good luck

John

Great work Graeme and Gwyn.

It is an important site of record so I suggest the launch is worthy of a new thread. A lot of Pals may miss your announcement in this long thread.

Agog for the details of Kent.

Like John and Clive said Excellent work, Graeme and Gwyn. I think, like Clive, a new thread would be a good idea to bring this more clearly to Pals' attention.

Site launched, just a shed load of work left to populate it

Congrats.

Jim

Fantastic work Graeme and Gwyn - looking forward to seeing London, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Kent in due course!
Charles

It'sa great site which is going to be THE major resource on the subject, I'm sure of that. It oozes visual quality too.

Congratulations to all.

Tom

Thanks to some of the nicest Pals one could want, for your kindnesses.

It's your support that has got us this far.

Thank you.

Graeme

Graeme

This is brilliant. I've added it straight to my bookmarks as it will prove so useful.

Its also a really great design.

I know how much work Gwyn and you have put it in to this and offer my heartfelt thanks.

Regards




Mike Shingleton

Are there any drill halls in the Reading area. I would be happy to take some pics if required.
Regards,
Roland.

Pals

Going to Davies Street on Friday for lunch. want any pics from inside?

Rgds

Andy

BELATED BUT HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS

I’m responding because Graeme is currently without Internet access. I know he would express his appreciation in person if he could.

Mike and David

We’re very grateful for your appreciative comments; thank you. Your opinions matter.

Roland

As far as I can tell, we’re rather short of Berkshire pictures. It would probably be easiest if I sent you a list of the addresses I can pick out from the database and you can decide what’s in your region and what's convenient for you. Anything you can share would be wonderful; thank you for offering.

We’re planning to load Berkshire just before Christmas, so there’s no rush.

Andy

Yes, please! We’re always grateful for images which help to bring these under-valued buildings to life. We have internal shots of other drill halls which people have visited and I always enjoy seeing what they’re like inside. (I can let you have email addresses for the project if you need one.)


Many thanks for the continued interest and to the many people who have explored the site in the last three or four days from the links on the Forum.

Gwyn

Gwyn

Will post again at the weekend

Rgds

Andy

Gwyn , email on the way.
Roland.

Excellent, Andy. Thank you.

Roland - emails in reply. Thank you, too.

Gwyn

Gwyn

Had a look at the new website, it looks excellent both visually and contentwise, Well done to both Graeme and yourself.

A Very minor gripe is the lack of Huntingdonshire in the list of counties, is this an oversight or was it left out deliberately as it's now been swallowed up by Cambridgeshire?

Can I ask what sort of coverage you have for St. Neots, Huntingdon, St. Ives and Ramsey as I'm aware that they all had Drill Halls at one time or another. Not sure what timescales we'd be looking at but they definitely existed in some form in 1914 when the Huntingdonshire Cyclists were raised.

If there's no coverage then I would gladly offer my help to see what I can find.

Regards

Steve

Hello Steve

Huntingdon does indeed exist in its own right in Graeme's database and you've spotted an oversight that I missed in proofing the list of counties for that page of the site. I'll put it right as soon as possible. I'm sorry!

Looking at the database, I see something about the dereliction, vandalism and potential demolition of Ramsey drill hall and a redevelopment notice for the site. It would be good to have an update on what actually happened and, if it was demolished, whether anyone did any site studies (if appropriate) or took ground photos.

In St Ives, I see an address in Ball Lane (or it could be Hall Lane). There are also Drill Stations listed in Kimbolton and Somersham.

Graeme is constantly updating and expanding his database, so there's every possibility that he has material which isn't in the copy I'm using.

I'm sure that he would be very grateful for anything you can find - indeed, for anyone's contributions of information or photos. As I said earlier, he hasn't got Internet access at the moment, so I'll leave it to him to expand when he's 'back'.

Thank you very much for your input and the offer.

Gwyn

Edited: Steve, Huntingdonshire is now there in the list.

Gwyn

Had a great day at Davies Street yesterday.

Unfortunately, I could not take my camera and had to use my phone instead. As a result, the photos are not spectacular.

The day started in the Rifles Bar which used to be the Serjeants Mess. Guess who was it's President on two occasions? I'll give you a clue...

Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

I do have some others, including one of the actual drill hall where these plaques are located. Would you like me to email them?

I will be going back there to do some research and will definately take my camera on that occassion.

Rgds

Andy

Gwyn. Pictures taken yesterday afternoon on their way.
The Yeomanary House Drill Hall was pulled down 10 years ago and the public records office is on the site.
The Friar St. drill hall building is still there and is now used by the Halifax B.S.
Regards,
Roland.

Brilliant! Thank you, Roland. I'll / we'll look forward to seeing them.

Gwyn