Bank Parade drill hall explained

Bank Parade drill hall
Type:Drill hall
Map Type:Lancashire
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Lancashire
Location:Burnley
Coordinates:53.7908°N -2.2406°W
Built:Early 20th century
Used:Early 20th century – 1921
Built For:War Office

The Bank Parade drill hall, also known as the Keighley Green Drill Hall, is a former military installation in Burnley, Lancashire.

History

The building was designed as the headquarters of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment and completed in the early 20th century. The unit evolved to become the 5th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment in 1908.[1] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to Gallipoli and ultimately to the Western Front.[2] More recruits, this time for Z Company, the 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington), East Lancashire Regiment, were also assembled at the drill hall the following month.[3]

The battalion amalgamated with the 4th Battalion to form the 4th/5th Battalion at the Canterbury Street drill hall in Blackburn in 1921.[1] The drill hall was decommissioned and it became a well-established boxing venue during the 1930s.[4] [5] It was used by the Home Guard during the Second World War[6] and currently operates as a snooker club.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment . https://web.archive.org/web/20071128004906/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/la-E5.htm . 15 July 2000 . 28 November 2007 . Regiments.org . 6 October 2009 . dead . dmy-all .
  2. Web site: Chris Baker . The East Lancashire Regiment in 1914  - 1918 . The Long, Long Trail The British Army of 1914-1918 . 2009-10-04.
  3. Book: Turner, William . Accrington Pals: The 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington) East Lancashire Regiment. Pen and Sword. 1987. 978-0850523607.
  4. Web site: Jack Dolan, the local boxer, was well beaten on points the Burnley Drill Hall, Keighley Green, last night. Burnley Express. 17 October 1931. 27 August 2017.
  5. Web site: Old Timer. 35. 27 August 2017.
  6. Web site: 'F' Company, Burnley Home Guard c.1943 Outside Keighley Green Drill Hall (photograph 2892). Towneley Collections. 27 August 2017.
  7. Web site: Burnley Snooker Club. 27 August 2017.