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

Bank Parade drill hall
Burnley
Bank Parade drill hall
Bank Parade drill hall is located in Lancashire
Bank Parade drill hall
Bank Parade drill hall
Location in Lancashire
Coordinates53°47′27″N 2°14′26″W / 53.79082°N 2.24055°W / 53.79082; -2.24055
TypeDrill hall
Site history
BuiltEarly 20th century
Built forWar Office
In useEarly 20th century – 1921

History

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b "5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment". Regiments.org. 15 July 2000. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  2. ^ Chris Baker. "The East Lancashire Regiment in 1914 – 1918". The Long, Long Trail The British Army of 1914-1918. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  3. ^ Turner, William (1987). Accrington Pals: The 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington) East Lancashire Regiment. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-0850523607.
  4. ^ "Jack Dolan, the local boxer, was well beaten on points the Burnley Drill Hall, Keighley Green, last night". Burnley Express. 17 October 1931. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Old Timer" (PDF). p. 35. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  6. ^ "'F' Company, Burnley Home Guard c.1943 Outside Keighley Green Drill Hall (photograph 2892)". Towneley Collections. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Burnley Snooker Club". Retrieved 27 August 2017.