Northgate Street drill hall, Warwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northgate Street drill hall |
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| Warwick | |
The drill hall was in the third section of the four white stucco-faced sections of the terrace
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 Northgate Street drill hall
Location within Warwickshire
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| Coordinates | 52°16′59″N 1°35′19″W / 52.28292°N 1.58871°W |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | Late 17th century |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | Late 17th century-1956 |
The Northgate Street drill hall is a special building in Warwick, England. It used to be a place where soldiers trained and prepared for duty. This building has a long history, changing from homes to a military training center, and then back to homes again.
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A Look Back at the Building's Past
From Homes to a Training Center
The building you see today, at Nos. 10 and 12 Northgate Street, started as private homes. It was built a very long time ago, in the late 1600s.
In the mid-1800s, the Warwickshire County Council bought these homes. They changed them into a "drill hall." A drill hall is a place where soldiers, especially volunteers, can practice their drills and exercises. This particular drill hall was for the Warwickshire Rifle Volunteers. These were local people who volunteered to train as soldiers to help defend their country.
The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Over time, the Warwickshire Rifle Volunteers changed their name and organization. They became the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1883. Later, in 1908, they became the 7th Battalion of the same regiment.
Even though the main office (headquarters) for this regiment moved to Coventry in 1908, a group of soldiers, called G Company, stayed in Warwick. They continued to use the Northgate Street drill hall for their training.
The Warwickshire Yeomanry's Role
The drill hall also became the main base for another military group, the Warwickshire Yeomanry. The Yeomanry were a type of volunteer cavalry, meaning they were soldiers who rode horses. They also used the drill hall starting in the mid-1800s.
When World War I began in August 1914, the Warwickshire Yeomanry gathered at this drill hall. They were "mobilised," which means they were officially called into active service. From here, they were sent to fight in a famous battle called Gallipoli.
After World War II
After the Second World War, the Warwickshire Yeomanry also moved their main office to Coventry. However, a part of their group, called B Squadron, remained in Warwick. A squadron is a smaller unit of soldiers, often cavalry or tanks.
In 1956, the Warwickshire Yeomanry joined forces with another group, the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars. When military units join together, it's called "amalgamating." They formed a new group called the Queen's Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry. After this change, the Northgate Street building was no longer needed as a drill hall. It was then changed back into homes, just like it was when it was first built.
