Stanhope Road drill hall, Portsmouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stanhope Road drill hall |
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| Portsmouth | |
Stanhope Road drill hall
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 Stanhope Road drill hall
Location in Hampshire
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| Coordinates | 50°47′58″N 1°05′31″W / 50.79945°N 1.09196°W |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1901 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1901–1990s |
The Stanhope Road drill hall, also known as the Connaught Drill Hall, is an old building in Portsmouth, Hampshire. It used to be a place where soldiers trained. Today, it is a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
A Look Back in Time
The Stanhope Road drill hall was designed by a local architect named Alfred Bone. It was built to be the main base for a group of soldiers called the 3rd (Duke of Connaught's Own) Volunteer Battalion, which was part of the Hampshire Regiment. These soldiers had moved from another building nearby.
The drill hall officially opened in March 1901. A very important person, Lord Northbrook, was there for the opening.
Changing Names and Roles
Over time, the soldier groups at the drill hall changed their names. In 1908, the 3rd (Duke of Connaught's Own) Volunteer Battalion became the 6th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment.
When World War I started in August 1914, the soldiers at the drill hall got ready for war. They were then sent far away to India. Later, in 1938, this group of soldiers changed again. They became the 59th (6th Duke of Connaught's Own) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment) Anti-Tank Regiment, which was part of the Royal Artillery. This meant they specialized in fighting tanks.
World War II and Beyond
During the Second World War, the drill hall was damaged. It had to be rebuilt so soldiers could continue to use it. In 1947, a new group, the 383rd (Duke of Connaught's Royal Hampshire) Regiment, Royal Artillery, moved in.
The groups of soldiers kept changing over the years. In 1967, they became A (Duke of Connaught's) Company, 2nd Battalion, Wessex Volunteers. Then, in 1992, they changed to C (Duke of Connaught's) Company, 6th/7th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.
The soldiers finally left the drill hall in the late 1990s. After that, the building was no longer used by the military. It was then changed into a nightclub.
