| Port hill drill hall | |
| Type: | Drill hall |
| Map Type: | Hertfordshire |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Hertfordshire |
| Location: | Hertford |
| Coordinates: | 51.7996°N -0.0824°W |
| Built: | 1898 |
| Used: | 1898 – Late 20th century |
| Built For: | War Office |
The Port Hill drill hall was a military installation in Hertford, Hertfordshire.
The building was designed as the headquarters of the 1st (Hertfordshire) Volunteer Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment and was completed at a cost of £2,000 in 1898.[1] This unit evolved to become the Hertfordshire Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment in 1908 and then the 1st Battalion, The Hertfordshire Regiment in 1909.[2]
The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to the Western Front.[3] Approximately 100,000 rounds of ammunition were stored in the drill hall at that time ready for issue to soldiers who were about to see action in the First World War.[4]
The battalion was still located at the drill hall when it was mobilised for service in the Second World War.[5]
The battalion was absorbed into the 3rd East Anglian Regiment in 1958.[2] However the British Army continued to maintain a presence at Port Hill drill hall, for the training of both Territorial Army personnel[6] and of cadets.[7] Nevertheless, the drill hall eventually became surplus to requirements: it was decommissioned and subsequently demolished and, in 2003, a new residential development, which won the 2004/2005 Civic Design Award, was created in its place.[8]