Wednesday, October 22, 2014

ABC Wednesday: O is for
Oldham Old Drill Hall


The Old Drill Hall on Rifle Street, St Mary's, Oldham with its distinctive castellated Gothic frontage, was the home of the local volunteer forces since 1897 and was used by the Territorial Army until 1998 and closed in 2002.


A sign on the former Oldham TA Centre exhorts:

DON'T WASTE YOUR SPARE TIME
JOIN
THE REME OR RAOC (TAVR)
JOIN HERE - JOIN NOW
INTERESTING WORK CAMPS OVERSEAS GOOD PAY


The red-brick castellated front block with tower at each end and central gatehouse with a hall reputed to hold 1000 men was built for the 6th Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment (following the 1881 Cardwell reforms previously Lancashire Rifle Volunteers). The battalion became the 10th Manchesters following the Haldane reforms in 1908.


In 2007 Oldham council failed in a bid to list the building because of its architectural or historic interest. Later that year a developer was given the green light to demolish the hall and build 30 homes, but that permission expired.


The Oldham Detachment of the Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force who meet in a building adjacent to the old hall had wanted the hall to be used as multifunctional venue.


The Old Barracks building was engulfed in flames on 31st March 2011. The 48,000 square metre hall was being used at the time to store vast amounts of upholstery foam. Read the Manchester Evening News report.


For now its only use is as an anchor for mobile phone masts.

A contribution to
Rubbish Tuesday;
ABC Wednesday;
signs, signs;
Good Fences.

17 comments:

  1. Some interesting old buildings. I guess a mobile tower is at least something to use it for.

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  2. What a beautiful old building! Glad it wasn't demolished!

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  3. Such an interesting building with so many details should be used. So many times we see this. Such a waste.

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  4. I like its crenulations, pity it could not be listed as quite a few of the old drill halls found other uses. I did have a wry smile at the "interesting work camps overseas" looking at it from today's perspective.

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  5. neat looking place! sorry to see it in disrepair and trash everywhere. thanks for linking!

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  6. Great old building, but like many in our towns, not appreciated as it should be. What a shame!
    Liz

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  7. I like the details on this building. I'm glad it hasn't been torn down. I hope someone can figure a way to use it so it won't be demolished.

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  8. Would hate to see a wonderful historical building like that destroyed. I hope that it will serve a useful purpose by someone soon. Looks to be razor wire on the fence?

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  9. Quite imposing! A building with authority!

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  10. That is sad about the fire but the brick buildings are sure neat looking.

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  11. Upholstry foam? THAT must have been some fire!

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  12. Such a distinguished looking old building. A shame it has not been restored.

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  13. That is one beautiful old building! Intersting history, too!

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