Store of weapons

Image: © Neil Owen Taken: 9 Apr 2015

This unassuming little building hides quite a past. Originally part of the expansion of Minehead around the turn of the 1900s, an electricity generating station was included to power the town. It carried on for a few years before it was replaced by a newer installation in Marshfield Road. The former building was used in 1909 as a roller skating rink, oddly enough. But the growing threat of conflict in Europe brought troops to the old port, with the North Hill site being extensively used for training from 1890 onwards. Up to three thousand soldiers were camped here, so the old electricity works were pressed into service as a drill hall from 1909. The Fifth Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry used the hall from then on, although other regiments also used it. Looking at it now it seems that much of the original structures have been demolished or at least extensively altered. There are plenty of private residences here and of later dates. See Image] for a look from the side or Image] for the old doorway, http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/WW1-Great-War-Centenary---Drill-Halls/9#somerset for the collection and http://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Somerset/TownMinehead.htm for the Drill Hall Project.

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