Smethwick

Broomfield Road?

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. Please see Handsworth entry.


Detail on side gable

Broomfield Road elevation


Side elevation


Side elevation

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the first attempt at content

The Drill Hall Project - Charting a neglected legacy