The Drill Hall

A growing military presence in Bourne as a result of the flourishing volunteer army unit during the late 19th century meant that permanent premises were needed for a headquarters and for training and in 1899, the chapel in North Street, built for the Calvinist Baptists thirty years before, was purchased for this purpose. This property is known today as the Vestry Hall.

The buyers were H Company, the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment, that was based in the town and took recruits from Bourne, Billingborough and the surrounding villages. The commanding officer was Captain Cecil Bell, and his second in command Lieutenant Thomas Mays, who were instrumental in arranging a series of fund raising events for the necessary capital although each gave large donations towards the sum required. One such event was staged on Friday 10th February 1899 and the Stamford Mercury report of the evening gives an interesting insight into the military activities of the company during that period of our history when there was still a public awareness of General Charles George Gordon's death in the Sudan in 1885 and Lord Kitchener's subsequent conquering campaign in that country, although there was no hint of the coming Boer War of 1899-1902 and the involvement of many soldiers who took part in the concert:

A grand military and variety entertainment was held in the Corn Exchange in aid of funds for the company, the enterprise being due to the initiative of Captain Bell and Lieutenant Mays, two young officers who have spared neither time nor energy in stimulating popular interest in the practical patriotism of volunteering. Their efforts have been happily successful in raising the numerical strength of the local company, in improving their efficiency and in animating rank and file with that esprit de corps which is the secret of success. H Company is fortunate in its officers. The entertainment proved a great success and a large audience heartily testified their appreciation. The tableaux were remarkably good and gave a vivid representation of recent (but already historic) scenes. The physical, sword and bayonet exercises, under the genial and able Sergeant-Instructor Lawson, were models of military precision. Especial interest was evinced in the signalling display with flags and lamps. Great attention has been devoted by the officers to this important branch of military work and the speed and accuracy with which sentences, selected by the audience, were transmitted across the hall and read, evoked enthusiastic applause. Excellent selections were given by the company's band under the able conductorship of Mr F J Clark. The vocal and instrumental items were very successfully given. 

The hall was finally purchased two months later and adapted for use by H Company. They had already been using rifle ranges established on land at Edenham provided by the Lord Willoughby earlier in the century but the Drill Hall gave them a base in the town which also included a gymnasium that could be used as a clubroom for social activities and promote the cause of the volunteers in seeking new recruits.

A smoking concert was held on Wednesday 12th April 1899 to inaugurate the purchase of the Drill Hall. The Stamford Mercury reported:

The hall is structurally admirably adapted for the purposes of the Volunteers and it has been furnished with the best modern gymnastic appliances. It thus combines the purposes of a drill hall, gymnasium and Volunteers' club-room, and the excellent and popular officers, Captain Bell and Lieutenant Mays, through whose generosity and enthusiasm for the Volunteer cause, the work has been accomplished, are to be congratulated on the result. The hall was decorated on Wednesday with loyal and military emblems and presented a cheerful appearance. A large company assembled to take part in the formal opening. Selections were given by the Volunteer band under the able conductorship of Mr F J Clarke. The proceedings were of a pleasant and social character and the event passed off with the greatest success. Mr Adkin presided at the piano. Songs were given by Sergeant Cawdron, Trooper Andrews, Privates Whiteley and Coleman, Messrs Lansdown, Williamson, Adkin and Stracey; recitations by Trooper Franks and Mr Adkin; and a clarinet solo by Mr Pitt. Mr Stracey, who as a humourous vocalist of exceptional versatility has established himself a high reputation in London, was applauded with enthusiasm and recalls demanded.

The Drill Hall remained in use until early in 1914 when H Company was superseded by the Bourne Volunteer Training Corps which took over the rifle range premises adjoining the Bourne Institute in West Street and ownership of the old chapel passed to the Lincolnshire Territorial Association. The building was subsequently put up for public auction at the Angel Hotel in July 1914 and was sold for £340 [£18,500 in today's values] to the trustees of the late Thomas Carlton, a former draper of North Street, and made available to the Abbey Church for vestry meetings and other social activities.

See also     The Vestry Hall     Bourne Volunteers     Letters from the Boer War

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