Church Street drill hall, Brighton
| Church Street drill hall | |
|---|---|
| Brighton | |
Church Street drill hall | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Location | |
Church Street drill hall Location within Sussex | |
| Coordinates | 50°49′30″N 0°08′31″W / 50.82492°N 0.14194°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1890 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1890-1967 |
The Church Street drill hall is a former military installation in Brighton. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
History
The building was designed by Edmund Scott to serve as the headquarters for the 1st Volunteer Battalion of The Royal Sussex Regiment, and was completed in 1890.[2] This unit evolved to become the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment, but moved to Montpelier Place in Brighton before the First World War.[3]
Meanwhile, the Sussex Imperial Yeomanry had been located at the Church Street drill hall since its reformation in 1901.[4][5] The regiment was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to Gallipoli and, ultimately, to the Western Front.[6] After the First World War, the unit converted to an artillery role and was reduced to battery size, becoming the 389 (Sussex Yeomanry) Battery, the 98th (Sussex Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.[4]
After the Second World War, the battery was reformed as P Battery, 344th (Sussex Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft and Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery, and later as P Battery, 258th (Sussex Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery in 1955.[4] After the defence cut-backs of 1967, the drill hall was decommissioned and converted into a Royal Mail sorting office.[1] It was designed as a grade II listed building in April 1995. More recently, it has been used as an antiques warehouse.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b Historic England. "Former drill hall, now Royal Mail sorting office (1380394)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ "Home to the Sussex Volunteer Rifles". North Laine Community Association. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ "Brighton". The Drill Hall Project. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "The Sussex Yeomanry". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ "Sussex Yeomanry in the First World War". The First World War in East Sussex. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ "Sussex Yeomanry". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ "Patrick Moorhead Antiques Warehouse". Retrieved 10 December 2017.