Lincoln Drill Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Drill, Lincoln |
|
|---|---|
| Lincoln | |
Broadgate frontage
|
|
 The Drill, Lincoln
Location within Lincolnshire
|
|
| Coordinates | 53°13′47″N 0°32′15″W / 53.2298°N 0.5375°W |
| Type | Drill Hall |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Lincoln College Group |
| Operator | Lincoln College Group |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1890 |
| Built for | War Office |
| Architect | Henry Goddard |
| In use | 1890–1999 |
The Drill, also known as Lincoln Drill Hall, is a special building in Lincoln, England. It used to be a place where soldiers trained, but now it's a busy community center. People go there to enjoy live music, funny comedy shows, pantomimes (which are like plays with music and dancing), and even live wrestling!
The Lincoln College Group now looks after The Drill. After a big makeover, it opened its doors again on December 11, 2021, ready for everyone to enjoy.
The Drill's Story
The Drill building was designed by architects named Goddard and Son. It was built for a group called the 1st Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers. A kind person named Joseph Ruston, who used to be a Member of Parliament for the city, paid for it to be built.
The Drill opened in 1890. Even though it was made for military training, people started using it for community events and social gatherings right away. The 1st Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers later became the 4th Battalion of the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment.
In August 1914, this group of soldiers gathered at The Drill before they went to fight in World War I on the Western Front. After World War II, the 4th Battalion joined with another group to form the 4th/6th Battalion in 1950.
Many exciting shows and events happened at The Drill over the years. One of the most famous was a concert by the legendary band The Rolling Stones on New Year's Eve in 1963! The very next day, they appeared on the famous TV show Top of the Pops for the first time.
The building continued to be used for military training for many years, but it started to get old and worn out. It closed in 1999. However, people in Lincoln really wanted it back! So, after a huge £2.6 million renovation, it reopened four years later. A local company called Lindum Construction did the main work.
In 2010, the city council gave control of The Drill to an independent group called the Lincoln Arts Trust. Later, it was managed by the Ruston Hall Trust. But in March 2020, the city council stopped its yearly funding, and The Drill closed again.
Luckily, the Lincoln College Group stepped in to save it from closing forever! They did a lot of work to fix it up and make it new again in late 2021. It reopened in December with a series of fun pantomime shows. The Drill building, along with its nearby clubhouse, is now a Grade II Listed Building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
What You Can Do at The Drill
The main hall at The Drill can hold about 500 people. Many famous bands have played there, including Buzzcocks, The Damned, Stiff Little Fingers, Iron Maiden, Seth Lakeman, and The Subways.
Funny comedians like Russell Howard, Marcus Brigstocke, and Mark Thomas have also performed there. The Drill also has a cafe where you can relax and a restaurant called The Limelight, which opened in spring 2022. Every year, it also hosts the Lincoln Beer Festival.
Lincoln has another big music venue called the Engine Shed, which brings in very famous bands. Because of this, The Drill has become the perfect place for new and rising bands from all over the United Kingdom to perform when they visit Lincoln.
Besides music, The Drill hosts many other events. You can watch theatre shows, listen to authors talk about their books, see films, enjoy classical music, and laugh at comedy nights like the Red Herring Comedy Club. They also have workshops and business meetings.
One very special event at The Drill is The Butterfly Club. This is a super fun and welcoming party night especially for people with learning disabilities and physical impairments. It's a unique place where everyone can have a great time!
-
The Drill, Lincoln, Free School Lane
-
The bar and cafe area of the revamped venue, pictured in spring 2022
-
The Box Office at The Drill, Lincoln
