Drill Hall & Riding School. Bolton

BOLTON -The inauguration of the Drill Hall and Riding School for the Bolton troop of the Duke of Lancaster's Yeomanry took place on Saturday. The buildings have been built from designs by Messrs. Bradshaw and Grass, of Bolton. At the entrance is a lecture hall, 36 feet by 21 feet, and above this are store-room, dressing-room, &c. The lavatories are on the ground floor. The drill hall is 10 feet by 43 feet, and lofty. The interior walls are of local-made patent bricks, the sides being arcaded with semi-circular arches, and relieved by lines of moulded bricks. The roof principals are trussed with light iron rods. Along the whole length of the building, and supported by cast-iron trusses, is a ventilating roof-light, semi- octagonal in form. The glazing here has been done by the British Glazing Company, of London. The floor of the riding school has been covered with tan bark and sawdust, mixed together and deposited in layers, the total thickness being 18 inches, and to avoid the possibility of a rider being hurt by his horse getting too near the wall, the dado, which is of pitch-pine, and 5 feet 2 inches high, is made to slope, projecting at the foot. There are no internal columns; a clear view of the interior from end to end being thereby secured from any point. The exterior walls of the building are constructed of pressed bricks, the treatment being left plain, but relieved by being divided into panels, with over-sailing courses at the top. Immediately adjacent to the drill hall is the riding yard and parade ground, fenced round, but uncovered; it is 245 feet long and 164 feet wide, levelled, and laid with cinders, which are well rolled, and constitutes a first-class equestrianising area. The contract was let to Mr. William Bryce, builder, of Hanover Street, Bolton; the sub- contractors being - for the excavating and draining, Mr William Pollitt, of Pool Street, Bolton; brickwork, Mr James Hamilton, of Altrincham; and stonework, Mr. John Dickinson, Bark Street, Bolton. [Building News 18 April 1890 page 572].

Reference    Building News 18 April 1890 page 572
Reference    British Architect 23 May 1890 Page 366.