List of drill halls in Merseyside

This is a list of former drill halls, TA Centres, and current Army Reserve Centres, within the county of Merseyside.

Former drill halls

19th Century

Name and location	Photograph	In use	Units	Notes
Mill Street Barracks 53.45634°N 2.74083°W / 53.45634; -2.74083 (Mill Street Barracks)		1861–1980[1][2]	47th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps (1861–1880)[3][4][5] A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I Companies, 21st Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps (1880–1886)[3][4] 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) (1886–1908)[4][6] A, C, D, E, and G Companies, 5th Battalion, Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) (1908–1940)[4][7][8][9][10][11] 596th (South Lancashire Regiment) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1947–1955)[4][12] Q Battery, 436th (South Lancashire Artillery) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1955–1961)[4] RHQ and P Battery, 436th (South Lancashire Artillery) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1955–1967)[4] C (South Lancashire Artillery) Troop, 208 (3rd West Lancashire) LAD Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Light Air Defence Regiment, RA (1967–1969)[4][13] P (South Lancashire Artillery) Battery, The South Lancashire Territorials (Prince of Wales's Volunteers), RA (1967–1969)[4] 213 (South Lancashire Artillery) Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Air Defence Regiment, RA (1969–1980)[4]	213 (South Lancashire Artillery) Battery moved to more modern facilities in Jubilee Barracks in 1980, and therefore the building became empty. The Sea Cadet Corps took possession of the building and converted it into training ship Scimitar, shortly after, and it is still used as such today.[14][15]
Princess Park Barracks (1863–?) Crawford House TA Centre (?–1987) 53.392423°N 2.962046°W / 53.392423; -2.962046 (Princess Park Barracks)		1863–1987 [16]	5th Lancashire (The Liverpool Rifle Volunteer Brigade) Rifle Volunteer Corps (1863–1888)[17][16][18] 2nd Volunteer Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) (1888–1908)[17][18][19] 6th (Rifle) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) (1908–1936)[17][18][20] 350 and 353 Companies, 38th (The King's Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, RE (1936–1940)[18] Unknown units (1947–1967) 208th (Merseyside) General Hospital, RAMC (1967–1987)[21][22][23]	The original Princess Park Barracks were demolished sometime before 208 Hospital arrived, and in its place, Crawford House TA Centre was built. This, however was only in use until 1987, when the hospital moved Chavasse House in Childwall. The former TA Centre was used for teaching some sort of course, until the early 2000s, when that was demolished and a new building, also named Crawford House was built on the site.[17]
Everton Road drill hall 53.41599°N 2.96566°W / 53.41599; -2.96566 (Everton Road drill hall, Liverpool)		1884 (only no. 59,[17] other houses from 57 to 61 were taken over sometime before 1891) –1967?[24]	19th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps (1884–1888)[25] A, B, C, D, E, and G Companies, 6th Volunteer Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment (1888–1908)[26] A, B, C, D, E, and G Companies, 9th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment (1908–1921)[25] RHQ, and HQ and 177 Heavy Batterys, Lancashire and Cheshire Heavy Brigade, RA (1937–1939)[27] 14th Anti-Aircraft Group Signals, Royal Signals (1947–1955)[28][29] Western Command (Mixed) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1955–1956)[29] North West District (Mixed) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1956–1959)[29] RHQ and No. 1 Squadron, 59th Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1959–1967)[28][29]	The Red Triangle Karate Club took over the old drill hall in the 1973.[30] However, as of 2020, the main administrative buildings still stand disused, and in a poor state of repair, with a plan to transform it into affordable homes for Liverpool veterans.[31]
73-77 Shaw Street 53.414772°N 2.969471°W / 53.414772; -2.969471 (75 Shaw Street)		1888–1967 [32]	Headquarters, 4th Volunteer Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) (1888–1908)[33] Headquarters, 7th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) (1908–1913)[33][34] 1st (West Lancashire) Field Ambulance (?–1910) Headquarters, 1st Western General Hospital (?)[35] Headquarters, Liverpool Infantry Brigade (?)[36] 8th (Irish) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) (1913–1922)[37] 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, RFA (1922–1938)[38][39] 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Regiment, RHA (1938–1939)[38][40] 626th (Liverpool Irish) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1947–1955) 8th (Western) General Hospital, RAMC (1947–1967)[21]	The building was originally three separate houses, that were used from 1888 as a variety of unit HQs. However, after the whole Liverpool Irish battalion moved to the premises, a drill hall was constructed to the rear of the property.
Grange Road West drill hall 53.38924°N 3.04122°W / 53.38924; -3.04122 (Grange Road West)		c1890–1969[41][42]	RHQ, and ? Companies, 1st Volunteer Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (1900–1908) RHQ, and A, B, C, and D Companies, 4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (1908–1921)[11][42][43][44] 4th/5th (Earl of Chester's) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (1921–1939) RHQ and B Company, 4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (1947–1967)[45][46]	After the 4th Battalion, amalgamated with the 7th Battalion in 1967, the drill hall became empty,[45] and so it was sold to Birkenhead County Borough Council, who converted it into a sports and leisure centre.[42][47] Today, the building is home to a local gymnastics club.[48]

Early 20th Century

Name and location	Photograph	In use	Units	Notes
The Grange 53.2433°N 2.5909°W / 53.2433; -2.5909 (The Grange)		1900–1999	4th Lancashire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) (1900–1908)[49][50] 4th West Lancashire Brigade, RFA (1908–1921)[11] 59th (4th West Lancashire) Medium Brigade (1921–1940)[51][52][53] 359th (4th West Lancashire) Medium Regiment (1947–1967) RHQ and Q (4th West Lancashire) Battery, West Lancashire Regiment, RA (1967–1969)[54] 59 (West Lancashire) Signal Squadron, 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1967–1993)[28] 13 (Lancashire) Company, 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (1993–1999)[55][56]	In 2003, the TA Centre went up for sale,[57] and was bought to be used as the Museum of the Liverpool Scottish. It served this purpose, until the museum vacated the premises in 2008,[58] and it now hosts a number of business, including a dance studios and a vintage furniture shop.
7 Fraser Street 53.409988°N 2.976253°W / 53.409988; -2.976253 (7 Fraser Street)		1904–1967[59]	8th (Scottish) Volunteer Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) (1904–1908)[17][60][61] 10th (Scottish) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) (1908–1920)[60] 10th (Liverpool Scottish) Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment (1920–1937)[60] The Liverpool Scottish, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (1937–1939)[60] 1st Battalion, The Liverpool Scottish, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (1939–1967)[60][17][62][63]	Due to the 1967 reduction of the Territorial Army, the battalion was reduced in size, and formed two separate units: V (Liverpool Scottish) Company, 51st Highland Volunteers, and G (Liverpool Scottish) Troop, R (King's) Battery, West Lancashire Regiment, RA. Both of these units moved out of Fraser street into Forbes House, Childwall. This led to the building on Fraser Street being sold, and converted into a nightclub.[64][65]
Southport Drill Hall 53.650930°N 2.997708°W / 53.650930; -2.997708 (Southport Drill Hall)		1908–1967	RHQ West Lancashire Divisional Transport and Supply Column, ASC (1908–1914)[66] 55th (West Lancashire) Divisional RASC (1920–1939) RHQ 22nd (Southport) Transport Column, RASC (1947–1965)[67] 581 Company, RASC / 581 Squadron, RCT (1947–1957, 1962–1967)[67] 538 Company, RASC (1947–1960)[67] 22nd (Southport) Regiment, RCT (1965–1967)[67]	Drill halls was demolished in 2004, and replaced with flats.[68]
Tramway Road Drill Hall 53.375689°N 2.947466°W / 53.375689; -2.947466 (Tramway Road Drill Hall)		1908–1967	1st West Lancashire Field Ambulance, RAMC (1908–1914)[69] Divisional, Liverpool Brigade, and North Lancashire Brigade Companies, West Lancashire Divisional Transport and Supply Column, ASC (1908– Lancashire Fortress Engineers, RE (1908–1939)[70] RHQ, 55th (West Lancashire) Divisional Engineers, RE (1922–1937)[71][72] 254th (West Lancashire) Field Company, RE (1922–1937)[71][72] RHQ, and 353 (12th West Lancashire), 354 (13th West Lancashire), and 356 (27th West Lancashire) Batteries, 89th (3rd West Lancashire) Brigade, RA (192?–1937) 509th Field Company, RE (1929–1940)[73][74] RHQ, and 211 (13th West Lancashire), 212 (27th West Lancashire), and 225 (12th West Lancashire) Anti Aircraft Batteries, 70th (3rd West Lancashire) Anti-Aircraft Brigade, RA (1937–1939)[75] 25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1939) RHQ, 59th (Staffordshire) Divisional Engineers (1939–1940)[73] 128th Field Engineer Regiment, RE (1947–1949)[76] 130th Construction Regiment, RE (1947–1949)[77] 4th Anti-Aircraft Group Column, RASC (1947–1955)[78] 107th Field Engineer Regiment, RE (1949–1967)[71][79]	Drill hall is now demolished.
Liscard Drill Hall 53.422763°N 3.042037°W / 53.422763; -3.042037 (Liscard Drill Hall)		c1911– ?[80]	F, and G Companies, 4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment[11][42][44][81] (c1911–1921?)[82]	After the building was vacated, it was in use for many years as a motor body shop, however it has recently been demolished.[81]
Crosby Drill Hall 53.491119°N 3.026530°W / 53.491119; -3.026530 (Crosby Drill Hall)		1911–1962	E Company, 7th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment (1911–1920)[83] 66th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (1939)[84] 390th (King's Own) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1947–1950)[85] R (King's Own) Battery, 306th (Lancashire Hussars) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1950–1956)[84] 581 Company, 22nd (Southport) Transport Column, RASC (1957–1962)[86]	Became surplus to requirement after 581 Company RASC moved back to Southport, and so it was converted into a youth centre.[87]
Mossley Hill drill hall 53.380620°N 2.912590°W / 53.380620; -2.912590 (Mossley Hill drill hall)		1914–1967	Quartermaster Store (1914–1918)[88] 136th (1st West Lancashire) Field Regiment, RA (1939–1947)[17] 336th (1st West Lancashire) Medium Regiment, RA (1947–1950)[89] 910 and 912 Companies, RASC (1947–1965)[90] 910 and 912 Squadrons, RCT (1965–1967)[90]	The building was constructed in the 1800s as a Hackney Cab depot for Liverpool. The business folded shortly before WW1 and so the army utilised it as a Quartermaster Store; after the war, it was leased as an automobile garage,[88] however sometime before WW2 this business vacated the premises, and the army once again took control of the building, using it as a TA Centre until the mid 60s.[17] Today, the building functions as a warehouse for a printing company, the building having been heavily modified, and a portion demolished.[91]
Chavasse TA Centre[92] 53.395540°N 2.929530°W / 53.395540; -2.929530 (Chavasse TA Centre)		1914–1967	87th (1st West Lancashire) Field Ambulance, RAMC (1914–1924)[93] 87th (1st West Lancashire) Field Regiment, RA (1924–1947)[94][95] 287th (1st West Lancashire) Field Regiment, RA (1947–1956)[94][96] 165th (Western) Casualty Clearing Station, RAMC (1954–1967)[17][97]	Once 165th CSS amalgamated to form 208th Field Hospital, the TA Centre became surplus to requirement, and so was used for a number of purposes, including being used as a General Post Office, until 1996, when Frontline Church took over the building, using it for a worship and teaching area.[98]
Signal House (1937–1967) Forbes House (1967–1999) 53.404506°N 2.899194°W / 53.404506; -2.899194 (Forbes House)		1937–1999	RHQ, and No. 1 and 3 Companies, 55th (West Lancashire) Divisional Signals, Royal Signals (1937–1947)[99][100][101] 22nd Corps Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1947–1953)[99][100][101] 343 Signal Squadron, Royal Signals (1947–1967)[102] No. 3 Squadron, 42nd (Lancashire) Divisional Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1949–1967)[101] G (Liverpool Scottish) Troop, R (The King's) Battery, West Lancashire Regiment, RA (1967–1969)[103] V (Liverpool Scottish) Company, 1st Battalion, 51st Highland Volunteers (1967–1992)[103] V (Liverpool Scottish) Company, 5th/8th Battalion, King's Regiment (1992–1999)[103]	The building was demolished after being vacated in 1999, and replaced by a block of flats also known as Forbes House.[17]

Late 20th Century

Name and location	Photograph	In use	Units	Notes
Deysbrook Barracks 53.435015°N 2.888105°W / 53.435015; -2.888105 (Deysbrook Barracks)		1956–2002[104]	42 Command Workshop, REME (1956–1993)[104] 11th Signal Group / 11th Signal Brigade (1967–1996)[105] RHQ and HQ (King's) Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment, RA (1969–1992) 59 (West Lancashire) Signal Squadron, 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1993–1999)[99]	The barracks were built in 1955 on the site of Deysbrook House which was purchased by the War Office during the Second World War.[106] The barracks were sold and demolished in 2003, with a housing estate and Tesco Superstore being built on the site.[107][108]
Aintree Barracks 53.458705°N 2.949854°W / 53.458705; -2.949854 (Aintree Barracks)		c1985–2009	55 (West Lancashire) Signal Squadron, 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (c1985–1999)[99][109][110][111] 59 (City of Liverpool) Signal Squadron, 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1999–2009)[112][99][113]	When 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, was reduced to a squadron in 2009, the TA Centre was turned into a Royal Air Force Careers Office for North Liverpool.[114][115]

Current Army Reserve Centres

Name and location	Photograph	In use	Units	Notes
Townsend Avenue Army Reserve Centre 53.443416°N 2.931194°W / 53.443416; -2.931194 (Townsend Avenue ARC)		1937– [116]	5th Battalion, King's Regiment (Liverpool) (1937–1967)[117] R (The King's) Battery, West Lancashire Regiment, RA (1967–1969)[54] B Company (King's), Lancastrian Volunteers (1967–1971)[118][119][120] B Company (King's), 1st Battalion Lancastrian Volunteers; and B Company, 2nd Battalion, Lancastrian Volunteers (1971–1975)[118][121][119][120] D Company, 5/8th Battalion, King's Regiment (1975–1984)[122][123][124] B Company, 5th/8th Battalion, King's Regiment (1975–1992)[122][123][124] A (King's Liverpool) Company, 5th/8th (Volunteer) Battalion, King's Regiment (1984–1999)[122][123][124] A (King's) Company, King's and Cheshire Regiment (1999–2006)[125][126][127][128] North West Infantry Band (1999–2006) A (Ladysmith) Company, 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2006– )[125][129][130] Band of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2006– )[129]
Mather Avenue Army Reserve Centre 53.443416°N 2.931194°W / 53.443416; -2.931194 (Townsend Avenue ARC)		1936– [131]	RHQ, and 351 and 352 Companies, 38th (The King's Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers (1936–1940)[132][133] 573rd (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (The King's Regiment, RA (1947–1955)[134][135] 287 (1st West Lancashire) Medium Regiment, RA (1947–1967)[136] P (1st West Lancashire) Battery, West Lancashire Regiment, RA (1967–1969)[54] RHQ, and 235 (West Lancashire) Squadron, 156th (Lancashire and Cheshire) Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (1967–1980)[137] RHQ, and 235 (Liverpool) Squadron, 156th (Merseyside and Greater Manchester) Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (1980–1993)[137] 235 (Liverpool) HQ Squadron, 156 Regiment, RLC (1993– )[137][138][139] 125 Field Company, 101 Battalion, REME (2014– )[140]
Brigadier Philip Toosey Barracks 53.376750°N 2.944917°W / 53.376750; -2.944917 (Aigburth Road ARC)		c1939–	470th (3rd West Lancashire) Regiment, RA (1947–1967) [141] 525th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1947–1955)[141] HQ Battery and A (Liverpool Irish) Troop, 208 (3rd West Lancashire) Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Light Air Defence Regiment (1967–1969)[142] 208 (3rd West Lancashire) Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment, RA (1969– )[142][143]
Chavasse House, Childwall 53.397607°N 2.864828°W / 53.397607; -2.864828 (Childwall ARC)		1985– [144]	Headquarters, 208th (Liverpool) Field Hospital (1985–2023)[145][146][147][148] A Squadron, 208th (Liverpool) Field Hospital (1985–1999 ?-2023 )[146][148]
Alamein Barracks, Huyton 53.420572°N 2.845010°W / 53.420572; -2.845010 (Huyton ARC)		1956– [149][150][28]	Headquarters Squadron, 40th/41st Royal Tank Regiment (1956–1967)[151] RHQ and Headquarters Squadron, 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1967–1999)[112][28][152] 55 (Merseyside) HQ Squadron, 33rd (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (1999–2009)[112][153] 33 Lancashire Signal Squadron, 37th Signal Regiment, Royal Signals (2009– )[149][154][150][155]
Harrowby Road Army Reserve Centre 53.380712°N 3.030681°W / 53.380712; -3.030681 (Birkenhead ARC)		c1905– [156]	1st Cheshire Engineer Volunteers (1905–1908)[157] Cheshire Field Company, Welsh Divisional Royal Engineers (1908–1915)[157] 438 (Cheshire) Field Company, Welsh Divisional Royal Engineers (1915–1920)[157] 2nd (Cheshire) Field Company, RE (1920–1941)[157][158] 102nd (Cheshire) Transport Column, RASC (1947–1952)[90] 113th Engineer Regiment, RE (1947–1961)[157][159] 113 (Cheshire) Independent Field Squadron, RE (1961–1967)[157][159] 107 (Lancashire and Cheshire) Field Squadron, 75 Engineer Regiment, RE (1967– )[160][161]
Chetwynd Army Reserve Centre, Oxton 53.383165°N 3.057547°W / 53.383165; -3.057547 (Prenton, Oxton ARC)		1939–	RHQ and 288 Anti-Aircraft Battery, 93rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1939–1943)[162][163][164][165][166] 543 Company, 102nd Armoured Transport Regiment, RASC (1947–c1949)[167][168] 543 and 585 Companies, 102nd (Cheshire) Transport Column, RASC (c1949–1965)[167][168][169][170] 543 and 585 Squadrons, 102nd (Cheshire) Regiment, RCT (1965–1967) 234 (Cheshire) Squadron, 156th (Lancashire and Cheshire) Regiment, RCT (1967–1980) 234 (Wirral) Squadron, 156th (Merseyside and Greater Manchester) Transport Regiment, RCT (1980–1993)[171] 234 (Wirral) Supply Squadron, 156 Regiment, RLC (1993– )[138][137][172][171][173]
RG Masters VC Army Reserve Centre,[174] Bootle 53.473713°N 2.975968°W / 53.473713; -2.975968 (Bootle ARC)		2009– [175][176]	238 (Sefton) Squadron, 156 Regiment, RLC (2009– )[138][137][177][178]
Jubilee Barracks, St Helens 53.450329°N 2.748718°W / 53.450329; -2.748718 (St Helens ARC)		1980– [179]	213 (South Lancashire Artillery) Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Air Defence Regiment, RA (1980–1992)[142][180] 213 (South Lancashire Artillery) HQ Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Air Defence Regiment, RA (1992–2001)[142] 209/213 (The Manchester & St Helens) Battery, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment, RA (2001–c2015)[142][181] Platoon, C Company, 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2006–2018)[182] Headquarters Troop, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment, RA (c2015– )[183][184][185] Lancashire Artillery Pipes & Drums Band, 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment, RA (1992– )[183][186]