Building record 7206/281 - Drill Hall Great Park Street

Neo-Georgian drill hall built in 1924. It has a symmetrical, two-storey front block constructed of red brick with a pitched roof clad in slate. It has three bays with two windows to each bay.

{1} Drill Hall Great Park Street. Built betwen 1900 - 1926 the building is extant, but function uncertain.

{2} Drill Hall pre, WW1; 2 storey front block with gable over entrance arch; hall behind with single storey annexes; similar appearance to Rushden.

{3} Reasons for currently not Listing the Building
HISTORY AND DETAILS
The drill hall in Wellingborough was built c.1924 and therefore falls into the 1914-1945 period, during which more than 200 new drill halls were built, mainly in the suburbs of England’s major towns and cities.
The Neo-Georgian building has a symmetrical, two-storey front block constructed of red brick with a pitched roof clad in slate. It has three bays with two windows to each bay. The projecting pedimented central bay contains a segmental arched stone entrance on the ground floor, leading to double doors, above which is a plaque displaying the words ‘Drill Hall’ in raised relief. The ground-floor windows have segmental arched heads whilst the first-floor windows have straight heads rising to meet the eaves.

DISCUSSION
The drill hall in Wellingborough, erected c. 1924, is not recommended for listing for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: it is a standard design of modest architectural interest.
* Date: it is late in the evolution of drill halls and late in comparison to earlier examples of a similar design, the drill hall at Oakham in Rutland for example. It would therefore have to demonstrate a higher level of architectural interest and detailing to meet the criteria for listing.

CONCLUSION
The drill hall in Wellingborough has local architectural and historic interest, as it was built for local reserve forces, but it does not have special interest from a national perspective and should not be added to the statutory List.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Wellingborough (Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100290.

<2> Osborne M., 2002, Fieldwork Survey of Military Buildings: Drill Halls, Barracks & Depots: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Note). SNN103251.

Record last edited

Apr 1 2022 2:59PM