Albert Road drill hall, Retford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albert Road drill hall |
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| Retford | |
The "Albert Hall"
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 Albert Road drill hall
Location within Nottinghamshire
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| Coordinates | 53°19′07″N 0°56′30″W / 53.31867°N 0.94173°W |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1860 |
| In use | 1860-Present |
The Albert Road drill hall is a historic building in Retford, England. It was once a place where soldiers trained and prepared for duty. Today, it has a different purpose, but it still stands as a reminder of its past.
Contents
A Building with Many Lives
This building has changed its use several times over the years. It started as a place for religious activities before becoming a military training center. Later, it was used for a Sunday school and then for storage.
From Mission Hall to Military Base
The Albert Road drill hall was first built around 1860. It was designed as a "mission hall" for All Hallows' Church, Ordsall. A mission hall was a place used by the church for community gatherings and religious teaching.
By 1913, another church, St Alban's Church, Ordsall, had been made bigger. This meant the original mission hall was no longer needed by the church. It was seen as "surplus to requirements," meaning it was extra and not essential anymore.
In 1914, the building found a new purpose. It became the main base, or "headquarters," for a group of soldiers called the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry. A "Yeomanry" unit is a type of volunteer cavalry or armored regiment in the British Army.
Ready for War
When World War I began in August 1914, the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry were called into action. They were "mobilised" at the drill hall, which means they gathered there and got ready for battle. From Retford, these soldiers were then "deployed," or sent, to a place called Gallipoli. This was a major battle during the war.
What Happened Next?
After many years of military use, the Albert Road drill hall was no longer needed by the army. A new, more modern training center for the Territorial Army was built nearby. The Territorial Army is a part-time volunteer force.
Once the new center opened, the old drill hall was "decommissioned." This means it was officially taken out of military service. After that, the building was used as a Sunday School Centre for the Methodist church. Later, it became a place for storage.
