2nd Volunteer Battalion the Sherwood Foresters: 1902-1907
Ordnance Survey Map of Chesterfield showing the location of the Victoria Drill Hall on Ashgate Road in 1914
The Victoria Drill Hall was opened in 1898 by the Boar War hero, Lord Roberts of Kandahar. The Headquarters of the 6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters was at 10 Corporation Street, which also served the Notts & Derby Mounted Bde Company ASC and ‘A’ Squadron Derbyshire Yeomanry.
A Dinner was held at the Drill Hall on 31st March 1908 to mark the change from the Volunteer Force to the Territorial Force under the “Territorial and Reserve Forces Act of 1907”.
Other Drill Halls in Derbyshire included those at:-
- Bakewell (D Company)
- Buxton (C Company)
- Chapel-en-le-Frith (B Company)
- Clay Cross (G Company)
- Matlock (F Company)
- Staveley (K Company)
- Whaley Bridge (H Company)
- Wirksworth (E Company)
In addition Company Drill Stations for the 6th Battalion were also based in:-
- Ashbourne (C Company)
- Brimington (K Company)
- Chinley (B Company)
- Clowne (K Company)
- Cromford (E Company)
- Disley (H Company)
- Eckington (K Company)
- Edale (B Company)
- Hathersage (B Company)
- Hayfield (H Company)
- New Mills (H Company)
- New Tupton (G Company)
- Peak Dale (B Company)
- South Wingfield (G Company)
- Stoney Middleton (D Company)
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 
I wish I’d been older and had an interest in the period when I used to pass this building on my way visiting my grandad.Such a shame it was demolished.I think I went there to an underground rifle range when my passion for shooting began when I was very young.