Jan 01
The Old Drill Hall
Old Drill Hall
by Eric Wetherill
The Old Drill Hall was situated where the Fire Station is today, along the track and then footpath that leads from Ferry Road, along beside the Windmill, to the river.
In 1911, a Veteran Reserve was formed from the 5th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, Cinque Ports Volunteers, because of the threat of invasion from Germany. The Drill Hall and Armoury in Mill Lane, Rye, was begun later in 1911 for the Reserve and was opened by Lord Brassey on February 27th 1912.
To the left, inside the building, was a .22 rifle range running its full length, and there are Ryers alive today who recall the Army Cadets and actually shooting on this rifle range. There were boxing matches and even dances held there. How many Rye couples first met in the Drill Hall?
It lasted in the capacity of a Drill Hall and meeting venue for fifty years, but closed its doors in 1963. It was then used by Reckett & Coleman, the manufacturer of polishes, who used the building for the next eight years. The building remained empty from 1971 until 1988, when it was demolished and the present Fire Station was built on the site.