FOLLOWING Mr Hurley’s article last week’s Guardian, I can fill in a few more details on the Winsford Drill Hall’s history.

It was built by public subscription in 1901 following national concern on the country’s defence needs.

A local committee of prominent citizens acted to house the local militia who had no permanent headquarters to do their training.

The local council had decided to build Winsford Guildhall instead.

The committee commissioned a local firm Fowles to build on land acquired from the Verdin estate in Dingle Lane in 1900 and the hall was opened by Lord Dundonald of Grych Castle Abergele and on June 26, 1901, there was a parade around the town and a reception held where a tea at one shilling a ticket was provided.

The hall was a fully-functional military installation with a permanent staff NCO living in quarters with his family in the building.

The rifle range was situated at Jinks Farm, Swanlow Lane, actually outside of Winsford that was still being utilized by the Home Guard in the Second World War.

In 1914 the hall was the main recruiting centre for Winsford after the reservists were mobilized. After the war ended in 1918 the hall ceased to be used by the military and in the 1920s was a roller skating rink and in the 1930s became Winsford’s second cinema owned by Mr Binmore, a Canadian businessman living in Winsford.

After the Second World War ended most of Winsford’s children were given free entertainment including ice creams there.

Alan Ravenscroft Winsford