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

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

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.

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

Click to view attachment

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

Click to view attachment

Couple more photos added
P.B.

Click to view attachment

Last one.
P.B.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Stormin

Thanks Stormin

Much appreciated

Graeme

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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 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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

That's great, John.

Thanks

Graeme

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

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.

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

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.

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

Graeme/Gwyn

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

John

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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