Corn Exchange, Tonbridge
| The Corn Exchange | |
|
Kent | |
|---|---|
 The Corn Exchange | |
| Type: | Drill hall |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ59024672 |
| Location: | 51°11’51"N, -0°16’29"E |
| Town: | Tonbridge |
| History | |
| Built 1790 | |
| Drill hall | |
| Information | |
The Corn Exchange is a former chapel, trading facility and military installation off Bank Street in Tonbridge, Kent.
Though better known as a drill hall historically, its name, 'the Corn Exchange' comes from its use as the town's commodities market between 1876 and 1910.
History
The building was originally designed as a chapel for the Independent Congregationalists and completed in 1790.[1] The Independent Congregationalists moved out in 1876 and the chapel became used as the local Corn Exchange. The building was then converted to become the headquarters of the 4th Battalion, The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) in 1910.[2] It also became the headquarters of the Kent Cyclist Battalion at this time.[2] The 4th Battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to India.[3][4]
The battalion merged with the 5th Battalion to form the 4th/5th Battalion in 1947.[5] Following the cut-backs in 1967, the presence at the drill hall was reduced to a single company, E Company, 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Queen's Regiment.[6] The drill hall was subsequently decommissioned and converted for commercial use.[7]
References
- ↑ "Old Tonbridge in pictures: Other churches". Tonbridge History. http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/photos/other-churches/slides/8J.001.html. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Tonbridge". The drill hall project. http://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Kent/TownTonbridge.htm. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ↑ "Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment". The Long, Long Trail. http://www.1914-1918.net/rwk.htm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ↑ "Bank Street drill Hall". Kent in World War I. http://kentww1.com/bank-street-drill-hall/. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ↑ "4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment". Regiments.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20060214201939/http://www.regiments.org:80/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-so/ke-w45.htm. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ↑ "5th (V) Battalion, The Queen's Regiment and The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment". Regiments.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20060223162533/http://www.regiments.org:80/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-so/67que-5.htm. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- ↑ "Bobbett Design". Creative Match. http://www.creativematch.com/directory/bobbett-design/. Retrieved 24 September 2017.