Staffordshire Bilston Mount Pleasant Once the base of G Company 6th South Staffordshires, Bilston's drill hall is now the Robin II, a live music venue. Situated in Mount Pleasant, it is a curious architectural example. It was opened by Lord Dartmouth on Friday October 5th 1901. Bloxwich D Company Bloxwich was the home of D Company 5th South Staffs. There was no drill hall; the company shared the use of 'the Bloxwich Public Hall, situated in Wolverhampton road, locally known as the Music hall, [which] is available for concerts and is also used as a drill hall for the Territorials of E Company 5th South Staffordshire Regiment.' Brierley Hill Bull Street E company 5th South Staffs was based in the now demolished drill hall in Bull Street, Brierley Hill. The building stood in the area that is now a car park for the bowling alley. Kelly 1904 lists C 1VB having 'head quarters and armoury' in Hall street. Burslem Newcastle Street 'C' company, 5th North Staffs 'Opened in 1902, the drill hall was due to be opened by King George VI in August of that year, but due to the King's illness the opening was delayed until 16th October. The foundation stone records that it was laid by Colonel W W Dobson V.D. on 16th October 1902, a commemoration of the coronation King Edward VII. It has two storeys plus a hall, cellar and armoury. There are single storey extensions to both sides and the rear. It has two towers with crenellated parapets, one either side of the entrance. There is a decorative keystone inscribed '1902' and a spandrel panel inscribed 'Ich Dien'. Newcastle Street was formerly known as Castle Street. Kelly 1904 lists C 1VB the Armoury, Shambles, Burslem Burton-on-Trent Horninglow St, Burton on Trent HQ, A, B, H 6 North Staffordshire The HQ High St, Burton on Trent Plus C Squadron Staffs Yeomanry Volunteers Burton was the headquarters of a battalion of the Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire) Regiment, later a Territorial Army unit. In 1871 the rifle corps had an armoury in the former museum in High Street. By 1892 there was a drill hall, which in 1900 occupied a former skating rink at the south end of Burton meadow. A building behind the magistrates' court in Horninglow Street was used as a drill hall by 1919, and it was still used by the T.A. in 2000. Cannock Norton Hall, Norton Canes HQ 2nd North Midland Field Company Norton Hall, Norton Canes near Cannock was the home of the Harrison family. Originally offered as a base for an artillery battery, Colonel Harrison decided his coal-mining employees would be more suited to the skills needed by the Royal Engineers. Consequently it became the Headquarters of 2nd North Midland Field Company in 1907, demolished in 1934. Darlaston 61-62 Church Street, Darlaston, provided premises for F Co. 6th South Staffordshire Kelly 1904 gives 57 Pinfold Street. Handsworth Belgrave Terrace G Co 5th Battalion South Staffordshire The drill hall in Belgrave Terrace, off the Soho Road, Handsworth, is long gone. Although now part of Birmingham, this was the southernmost outpost of G Co. 5th Battalion South Staffordshire; originally the head quarters of the 1st Volunteer Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. Hanley College Road Headquarters, B, ds E 5 North Staffordshire B Squadron Staffs Yeomanry 2 N Midland Bde RFA 2 N Midland Bde Ammunition Column Victoria Road N Midland Divisional Telegraph Coy RE B and I Cos. 1st Volunteer Battalion Prince of Wales's North Staffordshire Rifle Volunteers The Drill Hall, College Rd, Hanley was the Headquarters, plus B and E companies, 5th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, and was opened by Lord Methuen on March 21st 1903, according to a report in The Times. *The Drill Hall at Hanley was also home to B Squadron Staffs Yeomanry, 2 N Midland Bde RFA, 2 N Midland Bde Ammunition Column, N Midland Divisional Telegraph Coy RE (listed as Victoria Rd / Victoria Park). It was also referred to as The Barracks, Victoria Square, Shelton Kelly, 1904, gives B and I Cos. 1st Volunteer Battalion, Prince of Wales's North Staffordshire Rifle Volunteers, who 'have their headquarters in the town [at Town Hall yard, and Market place (Stoke)]' but 'the Drill hall is in Victoria road, Hanley' where they are listed as B, K and O Cos. Also, 'Shropshire & Staffordshire Royal Garrison Artillery (Heavy Artillery), Barracks, Victoria square, Hanley.' Kelly, 1912, states that, 'The Territorial Force stationed in Hanley comprises the B Squadron Staffordshire Yeomanry, the 2nd North Midland Brigade Royal Field Artillery, the North Midland Divisional Telegraph Co. Royal Engineers, and 5th Battalion Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment), the latter having their head quarters and drill hall in Victoria road.' This also lists Staffs Yeomanry at 24 Howard place, Shelton, and the Artillery 'head quarters, Barracks, Victoria square' 'The Temperance Hall in High-street is much used for public meetings, which are also sometimes held at the Volunteer Drill Hall, a commodious building in Victoria-road, Shelton. This hall is the headquarters of the 1st V.B. North Staffordshire Regiment, which is commanded by Colonel Dobson. Captain A. E. Blizzard is the commander of the Hanley detachment ("B," " K," and " 0 " Companies). The Artillery Barracks are close by in Victoria-square. Lieutenant-Colonel Favell commands this corps, and Major H. E. Bishop is the headquarters staff officer.' (1907 Staffordshire Sentinel, 'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle & District') Hartshill Wilfred Place Headquarters, battery and ammunition column of the North Midland Brigade RGA. Stoke-upon-Trent was the base of the headquarters, battery and ammunition column of the North Midland Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery. Tucked away in a quiet residential area near the General Hospital in Wilfred Place, Hartshill, it is now used by the transport dept of North Staffs NHS Trust. Faint traces of a terracotta plaque show through a cement panel to the front of the building. Hednesford Victoria Street F Company The clientele of Hednesford's Bingo Hall in Victoria Street pass their time in the one time home of F company 5th South Staffs, a simple building with a fine terracotta crest hidden behind a timber sign. Built in 1894. Kelly 1912 lists it as Station street. Colonel Robert Summerside Williamson, 1859 - 1933, was a member of the local Territorials for some 40 years, joining as a subaltern in 1881 and resigning his command of the 5th Battalion in 1913. In 1895 he raised an appeal and funded the building of a Drill Hall at Hednesford. In 1914 at the outbreak of War he returned to command the local Volunteer Force and agreed in 1920 to resume command of his old Battalion finally retiring two years later. 2005 brings redevelopment to the area and it is understood that the drill hall is to be demolished. Leek Alma Street, Belle Vue 3rd (Leek) Battery, 2nd North Midland Brigade RFA Cattle Market I Co. 1VB The home of the 3rd (Leek) Battery, 2nd North Midland Brigade RFA, the history of which is admirably covered in the book 'Over There' by J E Blore and J R Sherratt, is listed in Kelly, 1912, as at Alma street, Belle Vue, Leek. A contemporary picture shows the battery after mobilisation, having just left the Drill Hall in Alma Street to join the rest of the Brigade and Ammunition Column in Burton-on-Trent. They then moved to Luton where the 46th North Midland Division was concentrating before moving to France on 26th February 1915, as the first Territorial Field Artillery Brigade to join the BEF. In May 1916 the Brigade became 'C' Battery 231 Brigade RFA. The Leek Rifle Volunteers were formed in 1859, and by 1872 had a drill room, known as the Armoury, in Ford Street. A reading room and gymnasium were added in 1877. By 1894 the volunteers used the upper storey of a converted building in the Haywood Street cattle market. There is also reference to I Co. 1VB at Cattle market, Leek in Kelly, 1904. Lichfield Frog Lane 'E' 6 North Staffordshire shared with 'A' Sqn Staffordshire Yeomanry Lichfield's drill hall was in Frog Lane, but was demolished during the early 1970s 'E' 6 North Staffordshire shared with 'A' Sqn Staffordshire Yeomanry. K12 lists 'Head Quarters & stores, Tamworth street', whilst E Co. was listed at The Guildhall. Also Yeomanry at Holly house, Lombard street Longton Portland Rd 'A' 5 North Staffordshire Kelly 1904 makes reference to A company 1st Volunteer Battalion at Berry Lane. Newcastle-under-Lyme Barracks Road 3rd King's Own Staffordshire Rifle Regiment, later 'G' Coy 5 North Staffordshire Regiment. The Italian styled Militia Barracks in Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, were built in 1855 from red brick. The Barracks were the headquarters of the 3rd King's Own Staffordshire Rifle Regiment, later 'G' Coy 5 North Staffordshire Regiment, which assembled annually at Newcastle for training, until 1880. In 1882 W.H. Dalton bought the Barracks and settled them in trust for use by the Rifle Volunteers of Newcastle, which became the Territorial Force in 1907. In 2002 the Barracks had been let and contained small businesses. Kelly, 1904, refers to 'The Barracks, Stubbs street' for G and H Cos. 1VB NS. Patshull HQ G Co 1VB Rugeley 'D' 6 North Staffordshire This is now apparently used as a church. Sedgley There was no drill hall, but premises in the town were used by half of E company, 3rd Volunteer Battalion South Staffordshire regiment. Smethwick 1st North Midland Field Company, Royal Engineers, Smethwick was the location of the 1st North Midland Field Company, Royal Engineers, now the Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre. A photograph in Smethwick Library Archives suggests a dramatic remodelling. It appears that the sergeant Instructor's house stood separately in the grounds, its gable adorned with a Staffordshire knot. The Smethwick Drill Hall was built and donated by Arthur Mitchell to the Smethwick Corporation and the Staffordshire Volunteer Reserves in 1898, in memory of his son Henry Mitchell. On the Smethwick/Handsworth border in Nineveh Road was the drill hall for the HQ and Staffordshire Brigade companies of the North Midland Divisional troops of the Army Service Corps. Stafford Newport Road 'F' 6 North Staffordshire, Newport rd, Kelly 1904 records: head quarters & armoury, Guildhall.' Kelly 1912 lists '6th Staffordshire Battery, Bridge street, Stafford.' Stoke-on-Trent Hill street E, H 5 North Staffordshire Hanley H According to Kelly 1912, Trentham, head quarters 1VB NS Market place, Stoke. Stone The Armoury, Town Hall, High St, Stone 'F' 5 North Staffordshire The Philip Dix Centre in Corporation Street, Tamworth was originally the drill hall of C Company 6th North Staffs. Built in 1911, it was opened on 20th December 1911 by the Lord Lieutenant of the County, the Earl of Dartmouth. Now redeveloped with only the frontage remaining, it has a terracotta plaque across its entrance to remind those passing of its origins. Tamworth previously provided a base for C Co. 2VB North staffs, with an 'Armoury, Church street.' (Kelly 1904) Tettenhall Tettenhall is listed. Tipton Sedgley road Tipton drill hall remains standing in Sedgley Road. Now empty, it was latterly used as an electrical wholesaler's stores. A large panel illustrates its benefactors, and the date 1910. The Herald Year Book 1914 states: Right Company Tipton, Left Company Sedgley Capt. F. W. Law, 2Lt R.D.B. Clayton (Tipton), 2Lt Clifford Howl (Sedgley), CSI W. Horton, CS Devey. Kelly, 1904, lists E 3VB at Dudley Port Tunstall 5th Battalion (Prince of Wales') North Staffordshire Regiment (D Co.) Kelly 1904 and Kelly 1912: 'The Drill Hall, with armoury adjoining, was built in 1898', and listed as the '5th Battalion (Prince of Wales') North Staffordshire Regiment (D Co.), Armoury, Bath street.' Tutbury Section 'B' 6 North Staffordshire Uttoxeter High Street This is understood to have been demolished in the 1990s. Walsall Whittimere street 2nd Volunteer Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment Queen's Own Royal Regiment of Staffordshire Imperial Yeomanry Kelly, 1904, states: 'Walsall is the head quarters of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment; a large drill hall was erected in Whittimere street in 1866, at a cost of £1,500, and adjoining the hall are offices and armouries; the hall is also used by the Queen's Own Royal Regiment of Staffordshire Imperial Yeomanry.' Rebuilt in 1910, it still stands, now a snooker hall (2005). A curious double-ended design, the frontage is painted showing the fine detail. Its rear end faces the back of a supermarket and is somewhat neglected. Wednesbury Church street Church St, Wednesbury was the location of H Company's fine martial drill hall; it also provided premises for the ammunition column of the South Midland Brigade, Warwickshire RGA, based at Saltley in Birmingham. Now demolished, a picture published in the Express and Star shows what a fine imposing building it was. It was built in 1893 at a cost of £3,000, and was described in the Blackcountryman as being '87' x 44', with a gallery at one end, an armoury plus Officers' and men's quarters, beside the Sergeant Instructor's house.' (Kelly 1912) Wednesfield Lichfield Street This is subject to confirmation. West Bromwich Carters Green 'A' Sqn Staffordshire Yeomanry 5th Staffs Battery 3rd North Midland Brigade RFA. Sandwell road HQ, E Co. 1VB Swan Village B Section N Midland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance RAMC In West Bromwich 'A' Sqn Staffordshire Yeomanry shared a drill station with 5th Staffs Battery 3rd North Midland Brigade RFA. Situated at Carter's Green, and long since demolished, it was opened on August 1 1902 by Sir John French, who received the Freedom of the Borough and presented South African medals to local Volunteers. It later became a British restaurant, and was also known as the Clock Tower restaurant. There is also reference to a Volunteers' drill hall in Queen street which later became a Salvation Army barracks and in 1903 the first factory of the Manifold Printing Co., subsequently Manifoldia Ltd. Willenhall Walsall Street D Coy 3rd Volunteer Battalion Willenhall did not have a drill hall until 1924 - the Walsall Street drill hall was opened on the 22nd March by Col J V Campbell. It was built at a cost of approx £2,250. Prior to this, D Coy used the Chamberlain Hall Club in Market Place. Curiously, Kelly, 1904, refers to D Co. 3rd Volunteer Battalion at the 'Drill hall, 3 Bilston street' , Kelly 1912 referring to the 'Drill hall, Market place' Wolverhampton Stafford Street A and B companies of the 6th Battalion South Staffs D Squadron Staffordshire Yeomanry 3rd North Midland Brigade 5th Staffordshire Battery 3rd North Midland Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery 6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment 3rd North Midland Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps The Headquarters, A and B companies of the 6th Battalion South Staffs were based in a fine drill hall in Stafford Street, Wolverhampton. Described in Kelly 1912 as 'the head quarters of the Infantry Regiment, in Stafford street, erected at a cost of about £8,000, form a considerable pile in an Early Gothic style, from designs by Mr. Daniel Arkell, architect, of Birmingham, and have a central tower; the Stafford street block contains on the ground floor an orderly room, adjutant's room, armouries, stores for clothing, waiting rooms and lavatories; on the first floor are two large assembly rooms, with ante-rooms, sergeants' mess &c. and on the second floor are kitchens, stores and caretakers' rooms. The drill hall is 184 feet long and 76 feet wide, and has a stage at one end and a gallery at the other, and is provided with cloakrooms and lavatories; in the basement are stores for baggage &c. and a heating apparatus.' Now used by Wolverhampton University, the offices are all that remain, the drill hall now demolished. Two crowned terracotta shields proclaim 'SS Regt' and a Staffordshire knot. Kelly 1912 states 'The Territorial Force stationed in Wolverhampton comprises the D Squadron Staffordshire Yeomanry, the 3rd North Midland Brigade and 5th Staffordshire Battery and 3rd North Midland Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, and the 6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment and 3rd North Midland Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps.' The HQ, 4th (Staffordshire) Battery and ammunition column of the 3rd North Midland Brigade RFA and 'D' Squadron Staffordshire Yeomanry shared an imposing riding school in Newhampton Road East, Wolverhampton. It opened at Park Road East as the new headquarters of 4th Squadron Staffordshire Yeomanry and 4 (Battery, Royal Field Artillery on July 1, 1911. The building has suffered partial demolition and redevelopment as flats. There is further reference to premises in Cleveland road for the Ammunition column. Wordsley 1st Volunteer Battalion (D Co.) South Staffordshire Regiment. Kingswinford is shown as having a drill hall in Wordsley; belonging to '1st Volunteer Battalion (D Co.) South Staffordshire Regiment.' By 1912 Kelly's Directory advised us that 'the former Volunteer Drill Hall has been purchased by William Haden Richardson, esq. and presented to the village of Wordsley as a public hall.' The building still stands, somewhat forlornly, now called Richardson hall. There is a faded stone plaque to the front that has some reference to the Volunteers.