Longden Coleham drill hall explained

Longden Coleham drill hall
Type:Drill hall
Map Type:Shropshire
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Shropshire
Location:Shrewsbury
Built:1865
Used:1865-1990s
Built For:War Office

The Longden Coleham drill hall is a former military installation in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

History

The building was designed for the Shropshire Rifle Volunteers and was completed around 1865. The unit evolved to become the 1st Volunteer Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1883 and the 4th Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1908.[1] [2] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to India.[3] A Squadron, Shropshire Yeomanry were also based at the drill hall at the time of the First World War.[2] Following the cut-backs to the Territorial Army in 1967, 4th Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry evolved to become the 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry in 1972 and the 5th (Shropshire and Herefordshire) Battalion, The Light Infantry (Volunteers) in 1988.[4] After the unit moved to the present Copthorne Road Army Reserve Centre in the early 1990s, the Longden Coleham drill hall was decommissioned and acquired by Barnabas Community Church.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Regiments.org. 24 September 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20051224125224/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/053KSLI.htm. 24 December 2005.
  2. Web site: Shrewsbury. The drill hall project. 24 September 2017.
  3. Web site: The King's (Shropshire Light Infantry). The Long, Long Trail. 14 February 2016.
  4. Web site: 5th Battalion, The Light Infantry. Regiments.org. 24 September 2017. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20051227051827/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-mi/67LI-5.htm. 27 December 2005.
  5. Web site: Barnabas Community Church. 24 September 2017.