Port Hill drill hall, Hertford
The Port Hill drill hall was a military installation in Hertford, Hertfordshire.
Port hill drill hall | |
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Hertford | |
![]() The drill hall (on the extreme right in the foreground) | |
![]() ![]() Port hill drill hall Location in Hertfordshire | |
Coordinates | 51.79959°N 0.08242°W |
Type | Drill hall |
Site history | |
Built | 1898 |
Built for | War Office |
In use | 1898 – Late 20th century |
History
![](../I/m/Bridge_in_Port_Hill%2C_SG14_-_geograph.org.uk_-_4532627.jpg)
The building was designed as the headquarters of the 1st (Hertfordshire) Volunteer Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment and was completed at a cost of £2,000 in 1898.[1] This unit evolved to become the Hertfordshire Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment in 1908 and then the 1st Battalion, The Hertfordshire Regiment in 1909.[2]
The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to the Western Front.[3] Approximately 100,000 rounds of ammunition were stored in the drill hall at that time ready for issue to soldiers who were about to see action in the First World War.[4]
The battalion was still located at the drill hall when it was mobilised for service in the Second World War.[5]
The battalion was absorbed into the 3rd East Anglian Regiment in 1958.[2] However the British Army continued to maintain a presence at Port Hill drill hall, for the training of both Territorial Army personnel[6] and of cadets.[7] Nevertheless the drill hall eventually became surplus to requirements: it was decommissioned and subsequently demolished and, in 2003, a new residential development, which won the 2004/2005 Civic Design Award, was created in its place.[8]
References
- "Hertford". The drill hall project. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- "The Hertfordshire Regiment". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- "Hertfordshire Regiment". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- "Hertford in August 1914". Our Hertford and Ware. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- "Army List 1937". War Office. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- "The Hertfordshire Regiment TA". Hertfordshire Memories. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- "2 Company, 1st 'C' Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment". The Goldonian. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- "Port Hill, Hertford, Hertfordshire". HPS. Retrieved 12 August 2017.