An historic Grade II-listed Army drill hall has been closed 'on safety grounds'. Castle Armoury, in Bury town centre, was designed as the headquarters of the 8th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps and built on the remains of the former Bury Castle in 1868.
Soldiers formed up there before being sent to the Western Front during the First World War, many never to return. According to the Army's website, a detachment of the 207 Field Hospital unit is now based there, together with W (Gallipoli) Company, the Fifth Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, a reserve battalion.
It also provides the home for the Fusilier Association Corps of Drums and Band, and is used for functions. The armoury - also known in Bury as the drill hall - is maintained by the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations, the RFCA, which is an arm of the Ministry of Defence.
Bury council has confirmed it has been told by the RFCA that it has been closed on safety grounds. According to reports, the old building has been 'deemed unsafe'.
Councillors, however, confirmed a 'broad-based campaign' would now be launched to lobby the MoD for funding to preserve the armoury. Councillor Richard Gold, armed forces lead at Bury Council, said: "Bury has a proud military heritage, and we know how important Castle Armoury is to Bury and our armed forces in Bury.
"The RFCA, who are responsible for the building and are an arm of the MoD, have informed us that they took the decision to close it on safety grounds, and it will take a great deal of money to carry out the necessary work.
"We will be contacting organisations and concerned individuals to launch a broad-based campaign asking the MoD to provide the funds for the RFCA to repair and bring the Armoury back to its former glory."
The Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association said the drill hall wasn't closing for good. In a statement, the RFCA said: "Activities at the Castle Army Drill Hall, owned by the Bury Castle Armoury Trust, have been temporarily suspended as remedial works are required on the property.
"Units and groups who use the facility will be offered the use of an alternative location as an interim solution. The remedial work planned for the building has not been affected by estate development plans elsewhere."
The 8th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps went on to become the Lancashire Fusiliers, who in turn became the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers who reside there to this day. Drill Halls were a common sight in every town and city, said Historic England. They were usually purpose-built meeting places where Britain's volunteer forces met to practice military drill and also served as administrative centres and armouries for the units.
The development follows the loss of a Bury-based battalion.
The 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was disbanded despite a fierce campaign. The battalion historically recruited from the Greater Manchester area – and can trace its history back to Bury's illustrious Lancashire Fusiliers. The Fusiliers, known for their red and white hackle, were to gain world-wide renown in the First World War after winning 'six Victoria Crosses before breakfast' at Gallipoli in 1915.
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