IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Compton Street, CARLISLE, CA1 1HT

The buildings on the left are part of the Swifts Mews/Drill Hall complex, pictured just prior to demolition. The site has since been redeveloped by Carlisle College to provide a new digital and creative arts centre.

There is an Ordnance Survey cut mark benchmark on the buttress on the near corner, right hand face, of the hall, http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm31057

Situated at the corner of Compton street (left) and Strand Road (right). This late 19th century building was originally a mission hall (the name suggests an association with the former St Paul's Anglican church in Lonsdale Street http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=386790 ). The hall is currently owned by Carlisle College, and not long after this picture was taken its conversion to a business studies facility was under way http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/2m-more-to-be-ploughed-into-carlisle-college-revamp-1.1116905 .

Former stables, dating from 1873. This view from Georgian Way was made possible because the drill hall, previously occupying the foreground, was already partially demolished. For further information, see Image .

Detail of the Ordnance Survey cut benchmark on the north-east corner of the Carlisle College Business and Enterprise Centre, facing Strand Road. The benchmark marks a height of 18.5928m above mean sea level (Ordnance Datum Newlyn) last verified in 1972 (location photograph Image).

Taken just before most of the Drill Hall/Swifts Mews complex was demolished. Carlisle College have since built a new Arts and Digital Media Centre on the site. For more information, see Image .

For some information about the building, which dates from 1874, see Image . In the foreground, Georgian Way cuts across the site once occupied by another drill hall. That one was built for the Cumberland Royal Garrison Volunteer Artillery in 1907, in the garden of their new HQ at Albert House (originally a mid-19th century residence) in Albert Street. After various changes in military organisation, the drill hall became part of the Strand Road TA Centre in 1953. Albert House (by now a club) was demolished to make way for the dual carriageway in 1969, so presumably the drill hall came down at the same time. (Information from an article by D.Perriam, Cumberland News 01.02.2008). This historical bit of description was added to provide an entry in a nationwide photo collection of drill hall sites by members of the Geograph Britain and Ireland Project - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/WW1-Great-War-Centenary---Drill-Halls .

There is a datestone from 1873 above the boarded-up door. The mews was built as stables for the nearby Swifts Racecourse. After the races relocated to Blackwell in 1904 the range of buildings continued to be used for stabling, and there was also a riding school at one time (information from English Heritage PastScape http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1546214 ). Later use was as garages, workshops and storage. More recently, the property was acquired by Carlisle College. It was demolished in 2013, a few months after this photo was taken, and a new digital and creative arts centre has been built on the site. A view to the courtyard buildings here Image .

For some historical information, see Image . These buildings have since been demolished, though the front of the Drill Hall was retained. Carlisle College has built a new arts and digital media complex on the site (for more details see news & Star article http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/carlisle-college-gets-planning-go-ahead-for-5-3m-arts-and-media-centre-1.1062039 ).

Buildings dating from the 1870s, being cleared to make way for a new arts facility for Carlisle College. The facade of the former Drill Hall was retained (see News & Star article http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/demolition-begins-at-5-3m-carlisle-arts-centre-site-1.1068158 ).