Farringdon Road drill hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Farringdon Road drill hall |
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| Finsbury, London | |
The drill hall entrance in Farringdon Road
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 Farringdon Road drill hall
Location within London
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| Coordinates | 51°31′14″N 0°06′24″W / 51.52055°N 0.10656°W |
| Type | Drill Hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1887-1888 |
| Built for | War Office |
| Architect | Alfred J. Hopkins |
| In use | 1888-1967 |
The Farringdon Road drill hall is a special building at 57A Farringdon Road in Finsbury, London. It was once a place where soldiers trained and prepared for duty.
Contents
History of the Drill Hall
Building the Hall
The drill hall was designed by an architect named Alfred J. Hopkins. It was built between 1887 and 1888. This building was made to be the main office for a group of soldiers called the 2nd City of London Rifle Volunteer Corps.
Serving in World War I
In 1908, this soldier group changed its name. It became the 6th (City of London) Battalion The London Regiment. When World War I started in August 1914, the soldiers gathered at this drill hall. From here, they were sent to fight on the Western Front. This was a major battle area in France and Belgium.
The Zeppelin Attack
During the war, London was attacked by German airships called Zeppelins. On September 8, 1915, a Zeppelin named L13 attacked the city. It dropped bombs near the drill hall. Two bombs hit a nearby warehouse. Parts of that building fell and caused a lot of damage to the drill hall.
Changes Over Time
In the mid-1930s, the London Regiment was reorganized. The battalion that used the drill hall moved to Sutton. They took on a new role, focusing on anti-aircraft defense. This meant the Farringdon Road drill hall became empty for a while.
After World War II, in 1947, the drill hall found new occupants. It became home to two medical units of the army. These were the 167 and 168 (City of London) Field Ambulances. They were part of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
By 1967, the drill hall was empty again. The medical units were reorganized and moved to a new location. Today, much of the old drill hall has been turned into offices. Different companies now use the space.
