View source for Rifle Street drill hall, Oldham

{{Short description|Former military installation in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Rifle Street drill hall
|image=Former Oldham Drill Hall - geograph.org.uk - 4206668.jpg
|caption =Rifle Street drill hall
|type =Drill hall
|map_type =Greater Manchester
|pushpin_map_caption = Location within Greater Manchester
|location =[[Oldham]]
|coordinates = {{Coord|53.54649 |N|2.11338 |W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|ownership =
|operator =
|built =1897
|used=1897-1990s
|architect =
|built_for =[[War Office]]
|garrison =
}}
The '''Rifle Street drill hall''' is a former military installation in [[Oldham]].
==History==
The building was designed as the headquarters of the 6th Volunteer Battalion, The [[Manchester Regiment]] and completed in 1897. This unit evolved to become the 10th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment in 1908.<ref name=regiments>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/la-M10.htm|title=10th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment|publisher=Regiments.org|accessdate=28 September 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023110546/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/la-M10.htm|archivedate=23 October 2007}}</ref> The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to [[Gallipoli]] and, ultimately, to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]].<ref name=trail>{{cite web|url= http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/manchester-regiment/ |title=The Manchester Regiment|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|accessdate=14 February 2016}}</ref> The battalion converted to form the 41st (Oldham) Battalion, [[Royal Tank Regiment]] just before the [[World War II|Second World War]] and evolved to become the 40th/41st Royal Tank Regiment in 1956.<ref name=regiments/> After the cut-backs in 1967, the presence at the drill hall was reduced to a single squadron, A Squadron,  The Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry (Royal Tank Regiment).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vcav/lancDLOY.htm|title=The Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry|publisher=Regiments.org|accessdate=28 September 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023103822/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vcav/lancDLOY.htm|archivedate=23 October 2007}}</ref> After the squadron moved out of the drill hall in the mid-1990s, it continued to be used for industrial purposes until it was badly damaged in a serious fire in April 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/50-families-evacuated-after-large-857617|title=50 families evacuated after large fire at former Oldham Territorial Army barracks|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=1 April 2011|accessdate=28 September 2017}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Oldham]]
[[Category:Drill halls in England]]
[[Category:Manchester Regiment]]