Drill Hall Castle Street Bury

In a recent competition for a new drill hall at Bury to cost about £10,000, the following awards have been made: 1st  A Hopkinson of Bury; 2nd G H Willoughby FRIBA of Manchester [British Architect 27 October 1905. Page 288]

THE NEW DRILL HALL AT BURY – The Duke of Connaught visits Bury today for the purpose of opening the new Volunteer Drill Hall. … The new hall has a total length facing Castle Street of 184 feet. The design is Norman, and the front is of Yorkshire parpoints with Darley Dale dressings. Access to the building is obtained through an entrance hall 15 feet wide, provided on the street side, with heavy doors and portcullis device above, and at the other end by sliding doors. The drill hall itself is 106 feet by 166 feet and has a floor space of 17,587 square feet. The roof is in one span, and the steel girders are carried on steel stanchions placed against the walls but independent of them. There are in the building, of course, officers’ and recreation rooms, for officers and men, stores, administration rooms etc. At the rear of the building there is a large open air drill yard, and here there has been erected the magazine, with compartments for mobilisation, service, and blank ammunition. The cost of the building is between £11,000 and £12,000, nearly all of which has been raised locally through the exertions of Colonel G E Wike, the commanding officer. The architect is Mr A Hopkinson. [Manchester Guardian 23 November 1907 page 7].

Reference     British Architect 27 October 1905. Page 288
Reference    Manchester Guardian 23 November 1907 Page 6 (Opening- inc photograph)