Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
The Royal Drill Hall in Derby was built in 1869 Built for the 1st V.B. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derbyshire Regiment) It had an impressive roof of 150 feet length by 75 feet span made from 72 tons of steel fabricated by Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby.
The Engineer was R.M. Ordish
Wright’s 1874 directory of Derby lists the Beckett street premises thus:
THE ROYAL DRILL HALL well deserves a favourable notice. It occupies a site beyond the Convenient Poor Law offices and the Chapel of the United Free Methodists, in Beckett street, on the opposite side, and, with its suite of apartments, officers mess-rooms, stabling, and residences for those who have the care of the premises, extends along the greater part of Newland street. It was erected by voluntary subscription, for the special use of the Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers, and was built from the plans, and under the supervision of Mr. Robinson, architect, Derby, an officer of the force.
Kelly, 1891, describes:
The Royal Drill Hall, Becket street, built in 1869 by a limited liability Company, for the use of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, comprises a hall 150 feet by 75 feet, with an and retiring rooms in addition there are orderly rooms, sergeants’ quarters, armoury and stabling.
My source "Steel & Iron structures made and erected by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd Derby and London reproduced from photos taken on the spot."
Hope you find my video of interest, if you do then please leave a comment.
The massive steel roof structure in this drill hall was made in Derby by Andrew Handyside Ltd, join my Andrew Handyside Facebook group to learn more : facebook.com/groups/andrewhandyside
And see my dedicated blog to their work :
friargatebridge.blogspot.com
Best viewed on a large computer screen or smart TV as this is recorded in 4K resolution with great music so a real waste watching it on a small phone screen. Did you know you can cast it to your smart tv from the YouTube app?
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Music Credits :
'The Restoration' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks
Andy
The Royal Drill Hall in Derby was built in 1869 Built for the 1st V.B. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derbyshire Regiment) It had an impressive roof of 150 feet length by 75 feet span made from 72 tons of steel fabricated by Andrew Handyside who made Friargate bridge in Derby.
The Engineer was R.M. Ordish
Wright’s 1874 directory of Derby lists the Beckett street premises thus:
THE ROYAL DRILL HALL well deserves a favourable notice. It occupies a site beyond the Convenient Poor Law offices and the Chapel of the United Free Methodists, in Beckett street, on the opposite side, and, with its suite of apartments, officers mess-rooms, stabling, and residences for those who have the care of the premises, extends along the greater part of Newland street. It was erected by voluntary subscription, for the special use of the Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers, and was built from the plans, and under the supervision of Mr. Robinson, architect, Derby, an officer of the force.
Kelly, 1891, describes:
The Royal Drill Hall, Becket street, built in 1869 by a limited liability Company, for the use of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, comprises a hall 150 feet by 75 feet, with an and retiring rooms in addition there are orderly rooms, sergeants’ quarters, armoury and stabling.
My source "Steel & Iron structures made and erected by Andrew Handyside & Co Ltd Derby and London reproduced from photos taken on the spot."
Hope you find my video of interest, if you do then please leave a comment.
The massive steel roof structure in this drill hall was made in Derby by Andrew Handyside Ltd, join my Andrew Handyside Facebook group to learn more : facebook.com/groups/andrewhandyside
And see my dedicated blog to their work :
friargatebridge.blogspot.com
Best viewed on a large computer screen or smart TV as this is recorded in 4K resolution with great music so a real waste watching it on a small phone screen. Did you know you can cast it to your smart tv from the YouTube app?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music Credits :
'The Restoration' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks
Andy
