Honey Street drill hall, Bodmin explained

Honey Street drill hall
Type:Drill hall
Map Type:Cornwall
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Cornwall
Location:Bodmin
Coordinates:50.4715°N -4.7177°W
Built:Late 19th century
Used:Late 19th century – Post Second World War
Built For:War Office

The Honey Street drill hall is a former military installation in Bodmin, Cornwall.

History

The building was designed as the headquarters of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and was probably completed in the late 19th century.[1] The unit evolved to become the 5th Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1908.[2] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to the Western Front.[3]

The battalion amalgamated with the 4th Battalion to form the 4th/5th Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry at Truro in 1921.[2] Although the two battalions operated separately during the Second World War, they amalgamated at Truro again in 1947.[2] The presence in Bodmin was reduced to a single company, D Company, 4th/5th Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, at that time.[2] After the contingent in Bodmin relocated to the Territorial Army Centre in Castle Canyke Road,[4] the Honey Street drill hall became surplus to requirements; it was subsequently decommissioned and is now used as a social club.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bodmin. The Drill Hall Project. 27 August 2017.
  2. Web site: The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Regiments.org. 27 August 2017. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20080118040213/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/032DCLI.htm. 18 January 2008. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry . Chris Baker . The Long, Long Trail . 9 April 2010.
  4. Web site: Your local TA Unit. 27 August 2017. bot: unknown. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20011116214607/http://www.army.mod.uk:80/ta/local_ta_unit/wwessex.html. 16 November 2001. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: Bodmin Band & Social Club, The Old Drill Hall, Honey Street, Bodmin. Where's best. 27 August 2017.