"We hereby ask that Wellingborough Borough Council ensures the safe keeping of The Drill Hall and that it remains part of any future development of the site."
The Drill Hall, or St Heliers as it was named in 1874, when Mrs Mary Ann Marriott is listed in the Whellan Directory as the occupant
In 1876, the Reverend James Ervine lived there and it is noted that his study window at St Heliers looked out upon the site for the [Congregational] church, as it was being built. While it appears to have been used as a manse at this date, it is not known whether it was built as such.
It is present on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map and on the Second Edition map is called St Heliers Hall. In the 1886 large scale map of the town, there are extensive gardens to the rear of the building and it appears to have been a fine private residence.
The former TA Centre according to the HER information the Drill Hall and garages behind were built in 1939, and opened by the Duchess of Gloucester in May of that year.
These buildings have now been demolished, leaving the original buildings associated with St Heliers.
They are built with the distinctive bands of ironstone and limestone that are seen elsewhere within the town. The Queens Hall Day Centre, immediately to the south, has similar stonework
Outline Planning Permission is being sought for Demolition and redevelopment as an Independent Living Unit, there are no formal designs for the proposed building
St Heliers should NOT be demolished, it should be kept and integrated in to the new development proposed for the High Street / Jacksons Lane area.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
August 20, 2014
June 18, 2014
The council remains silent on the future of the hall. I am currently gathering the historic evidence needed to push back against the demolition plans.
Reached 100 supporters
August 12, 2013
136 Comments
I would like this drill hall to be saved as I had many happy memories while going to army cadets and by the sounds of the younger and older generation, they did too! I would love my son to be given the chance to experience some memories in this awesome place :)
We were attracted to move to Wellingborough in part by the fine period buildings in the town centre and it would be a shame to lose the Drill Hall. Surely it can be incorporated into the new development as has been done in many other places with heritage buildings. Once knocked down it is gone forever and unique character is lost.
There are few areas left in the town that have so many ironstone buildings in such close proximity to each other. The richness of the stone gives great character to the architecture and modern builds are so sterile that they lack this character.
There have been enough lovely buildings pulled down in this town. This building is part of our heritage, we dont want any more flats or buildings with a short life span being forced upon us. Pull the council offices down if you need a piece of land, that is an eyesore.
We must stop our town from becoming faceless. It is in an ideal central postion. 1) move the activites from the Victoria centre, use it as a day centre for OAPs, the C.A.B, and the homless, as well as being just across the road from the round church makng it an ideal place for a wedding reception. KEEP REPAIR IT , AND USE IT!
It should be kept as it is
About time now to stop tearing things down and start preserving our heritage
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"We hereby ask that Wellingborough Borough Council ensures the safe keeping of The Drill Hall and that it remains part of any future development of the site."
The Drill Hall, or St Heliers as it was named in 1874, when Mrs Mary Ann Marriott is listed in the Whellan Directory as the occupant
In 1876, the Reverend James Ervine lived there and it is noted that his study window at St Heliers looked out upon the site for the [Congregational] church, as it was being built. While it appears to have been used as a manse at this date, it is not known whether it was built as such.
It is present on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map and on the Second Edition map is called St Heliers Hall. In the 1886 large scale map of the town, there are extensive gardens to the rear of the building and it appears to have been a fine private residence.
The former TA Centre according to the HER information the Drill Hall and garages behind were built in 1939, and opened by the Duchess of Gloucester in May of that year.
These buildings have now been demolished, leaving the original buildings associated with St Heliers.
They are built with the distinctive bands of ironstone and limestone that are seen elsewhere within the town. The Queens Hall Day Centre, immediately to the south, has similar stonework
Outline Planning Permission is being sought for Demolition and redevelopment as an Independent Living Unit, there are no formal designs for the proposed building
St Heliers should NOT be demolished, it should be kept and integrated in to the new development proposed for the High Street / Jacksons Lane area.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
August 20, 2014
June 18, 2014
The council remains silent on the future of the hall. I am currently gathering the historic evidence needed to push back against the demolition plans.
Reached 100 supporters
August 12, 2013
136 Comments
The building fits in with other historic buildings in the town, such as the Hind Hotel and the church opposite. It’s part of the fabric of Wellingborough and should be retained and repurposed.
I would like this drill hall to be saved as I had many happy memories while going to army cadets and by the sounds of the younger and older generation, they did too! I would love my son to be given the chance to experience some memories in this awesome place :)
We were attracted to move to Wellingborough in part by the fine period buildings in the town centre and it would be a shame to lose the Drill Hall. Surely it can be incorporated into the new development as has been done in many other places with heritage buildings. Once knocked down it is gone forever and unique character is lost.
There are few areas left in the town that have so many ironstone buildings in such close proximity to each other. The richness of the stone gives great character to the architecture and modern builds are so sterile that they lack this character.
There have been enough lovely buildings pulled down in this town. This building is part of our heritage, we dont want any more flats or buildings with a short life span being forced upon us. Pull the council offices down if you need a piece of land, that is an eyesore.
We must stop our town from becoming faceless. It is in an ideal central postion. 1) move the activites from the Victoria centre, use it as a day centre for OAPs, the C.A.B, and the homless, as well as being just across the road from the round church makng it an ideal place for a wedding reception. KEEP REPAIR IT , AND USE IT!
It should be kept as it is
About time now to stop tearing things down and start preserving our heritage
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The building fits in with other historic buildings in the town, such as the Hind Hotel and the church opposite. It’s part of the fabric of Wellingborough and should be retained and repurposed.