Lincoln Drill Hall

The Drill, Lincoln
Lincoln
Broadgate frontage
The Drill, Lincoln is located in Lincolnshire
The Drill, Lincoln
The Drill, Lincoln
Location within Lincolnshire
Coordinates53°13′47″N 0°32′15″W / 53.2298°N 0.5375°W / 53.2298; -0.5375
TypeDrill Hall
Site information
OwnerLincoln College Group
OperatorLincoln College Group
Site history
Built1890
Built forWar Office
ArchitectHenry Goddard
In use1890–1999

The Drill, previously known as Lincoln Drill Hall,[1] is a former drill hall in Lincoln, England, which is now used as a multi-purpose community hub, hosting live music, comedy shows, pantomimes[2] and live wrestling performances.[3] It is currently under the stewardship of the Lincoln College Group.[4] After being fully refurbished,[5] and renovated, it re-opened to the public on 11 December 2021.[6]

History

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Sculpture on the exterior wall by Rick Kirby

The building was designed by architects Goddard and Son for the 1st Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers and construction was financed by Joseph Ruston, a former M.P. for the city.[7] It was opened in 1890 and, although purpose-built for military training, community and social events were held in the hall from an early stage.[8] The 1st Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers evolved to become to 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment in 1908.[9] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to the Western Front.[10] The 4th Battalion was reconstituted after the Second World War and amalgamated with the 6th Battalion to form the 4th/6th Battalion in 1950.[11]

Various forms of entertainment were held at the hall - the most notable performance being a gig by The Rolling Stones on New Year's Eve, 1963; the following day they made their debut on the BBC's Top of the Pops television show.[12][13]

In 1967 the 2nd (Duchess of Gloucester's Own Royal Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire) Company, 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment was formed in Lincoln.[14] The building continued to be used for military training for most of the rest of the century but increasingly fell into disrepair and closed in 1999.[8] However, by public demand it was reopened four years later following a £2.6m refurbishment programme.[8] The principal contractor was local company Lindum Construction.[15] In 2010 the Council passed day-to-day control to the independent Lincoln Arts Trust.[16] The building was managed by the Ruston Hall Trust, a subsidiary charity of the Lincoln Arts Trust[17] until the city council voted to stop its annual grant of £187,000 and it closed in March 2020.[18]

Saved from permanent closure by the Lincoln College Group, the venue was extensively renovated and refurbished in late 2021, reopening in December for a series of pantomime performances.[19] The building (with the adjacent clubhouse) is a Grade II Listed Building.[20]

Facilities

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The main auditorium has a maximum capacity of around 500 and it has hosted various bands - Buzzcocks, The Damned, Stiff Little Fingers, Iron Maiden, Seth Lakeman and The Subways being notable examples. The venue has also hosted comedy acts including Russell Howard, Marcus Brigstocke and Mark Thomas. It also acts as a cafe with a seating area inside as well as a restaurant, called The Limelight, which is expected to open to the public in spring 2022.[21] It also hosts the Lincoln Beer Festival each year.[12]

Following the construction of the city's new music venue, the Engine Shed - which has enabled big name, established bands to visit the city - The Drill has become the first-choice venue for up and coming bands from across the United Kingdom when they are in Lincoln. As well as bands, The Drill hosts theatre, literature talks, films, classical music, the Red Herring Comedy Club among other comedy nights, workshops and business meetings.[22] It also plays host to the much-loved disability club night, The Butterfly Club, providing a uniquely inclusive party experience for people with learning disabilities and physical impairments.[23]

  • The Drill, Lincoln, Free School Lane
    The Drill, Lincoln, Free School Lane
  • The Drill Lincoln bar area
    The bar and cafe area of the revamped venue, pictured in spring 2022
  • The Box Office at The Drill, Lincoln, 2022
    The Box Office at The Drill, Lincoln

References

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  1. ^ "Lincoln Drill Hall returning with new name ahead of December relaunch". The Lincolnite. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  2. ^ "The Drill celebrates curtain raiser Aladdin panto after renovation". The Lincolnite. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Can you smell what The Drill is cooking? Wrestling returns to Lincoln venue after decades". The Lincolnite. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Lincoln College take over the Drill Hall – and the panto is back!, Lincoln College". www.lincolncollege.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  5. ^ "You know The Drill: Lincoln Drill Hall returns as The Drill". Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce. 2021-11-24. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  6. ^ Flintham, Jack (2021-11-23). "Lincoln Drill Hall announces new name and reopening date in time for pantomime". LincolnshireLive. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Article". The Times. 26 May 1890.
  8. ^ a b c "Drill Hall". Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  9. ^ Westlake, Ray (2010). Tracing the Rifle Volunteers: A Guide for Military and Family Historians. Pen and Sword. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-84884-211-3.
  10. ^ "The Lincolnshire Regiment". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  11. ^ "4th Battalion, The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 15 April 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Lincoln Drill Hall". Cultural Quarter. Visit Lincoln. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  13. ^ "31 December 1963". The complete works (of the Rolling Stones). Nico Zentgraf. Retrieved 18 May 2013. 631231A
  14. ^ "Lincolnshire Regiment". British army units 1945 on. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Drill Hall". Case studies. Lindum construction.
  16. ^ Ionescu, Daniel (24 August 2010). "City Council sets Lincoln Drill Hall free". The Lincolnite. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Ruston Hall Trust". (no.1137366-1). Charities Commission. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  18. ^ "Lincoln Drill Hall: Arts venue to shut as funding stopped". BBC News. 2020-10-07. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Lincoln Drill Hall to return as The Drill". CityX. 2021-11-26. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  20. ^ Historic England. "The Drill hall (Grade II) (1388471)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  21. ^ "Food & Drink - The Drill, Lincoln: THEATRE, MUSIC, COMEDY, FAMILY & FRIENDS". www.lincolndrill.co.uk. 2022-03-05. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Comedy news". Lincolnshire Echo. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  23. ^ ""The most inclusive venue in Lincoln" spreads its wings: The Butterfly Club returns to The Drill". Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
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