Building record 10107 - Volunteer Drill Hall, Duke Street

The Volunteer Drill Hall was erected on Duke Street in 1868 (2), it is shown on the later 19th century Ordnance Survey Town Plans as a substantial building some 39m in length and 19m in width. An armoury was located at the front of the building (1). The Drill Hall was operated by the Cheshire Yeomanry. (4)

The Hall was designed by James Harrison with funds raised from public subscriptions. It is of stone dress brick with a grey slate roof. There is a three storey gatehouse tower at the east end with a red sandstone archway while the main structure is two storeys with a recessed mansard roofed attic. The large hall to the rear of the building was demolished in 1983 and the armoury and gatehouse tower converted into residential accommodation. (5)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1872-1875, Metric Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6780.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1872-1875, Metric Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6780.

<3> multiple authors, 1983, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed, p50 (Article in Journal). SCH5810.

<4> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions, p296 (Book). SCH6522.

<5> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 1376042 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.