207 (MANCHESTER) FIELD HOSPITAL (V) - BURY

CASTLE ARMOURY TA CENTRE - Live in the local area, fancy doing something different this weekend?

G SQUADRON - BURY

  HISTORY OF CASTLE ARMOURY

In 1859, the 8^th Lancashire (Bury) Rifle Volunteer Corps was formed, raising the problem of providing shelter and drilling facilities for the new unit.  A new Drill Hall was proposed, funded for by public subscription and a former Bury Member of Parliament, Mr R N Philips, laid the foundation stone of the Drill Hall on a typically wet Bury day in August 1868. 

The Drill Hall was built on the historical site of Bury Castle, a 13^th century Keep owned by the powerful Pilkington family, Lords’ of the Manor of Bury.  It incorporated some original castle material into its structure and a section of the original moat is preserved in front of the present building.  In keeping with the 13^th century architecture of the castle, the new Drill Hall was built in a fortified style.  Castlellations, gargoyles, turrets, towers, arrow slits and other Norman architectural features contributed to the ancient-looking façade.  In the 1880s with the advent of steam engines, a tram depot was built next to the Drill Hall using the same architectural features.  This building, however, made way for a new Drill Hall extension in 1907.

The opening of the Drill Hall extension also marked one of Bury’s royal visits.  HRH The Duke of Connaught, brother of King Edward VII officially opened the building on 23rd November 1907.  A year earlier Colonel George Edward Wike, the Commanding Officer of the Bury Volunteer Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (1900-1907), personally raised £7,500 for the new building extension and was given the privilege of laying the foundation stone on a bitterly cold autumn morning in October 1906.  Subsequently Colonel Wike was made a Freeman of the Borough in 1911.  The Drill Hall extension kept to the same style as the original building.  A new main gate was built into the extension, consisting of a large semi-circular arch, decorative columns and timber portcullis, flanked by the building dates 1868 and 1907.  Above the gate a large Coat of Arms is present, incorporating the Lancashire Fusiliers badge and motto “Omnia Audax”, translating to “Dare Anything”.

The Lancashire Fusiliers date from the landings of Prince William of Orange (later King William III) at Torbay in 1688, when he was met by a number of noblemen who were then commissioned to raise Regiments for his service against the deposed James II.  Colonel Sir Robert Peyton, one of these, had served under the Prince in Holland and raised a Regiment of Foot containing six independent companies in the Exeter area.  In 1782 the title was changed to the XX or East Devon Regiment of Foot and from the 1^st July 1881 as XX The Lancashire Fusiliers.  The historical link between Bury and the Fusiliers started during the latter part of the 18^th and early part of the 19^th century.  The XX had been very successful in recruiting from the Lancashire area and a Regimental Depot was established at Wellington Barracks, Bury in 1881, following the renaming of the regiment.  Wellington Barracks became XX The Lancashire Fusiliers Regimental Headquarters in 1961. 

A Reserve Forces Corps of Lancashire Volunteers had already been firmly established at Castle Armoury since 1868, later becoming The Lancashire Fusiliers 5^th Battalion (Volunteers).  In 1968 The Lancashire Fusiliers became part of the newly formed Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

January 1943 was a terrible year in Castle Armoury’s long history.  A member of the National Fire Service, Fireman Walter Sunderland (39) died tackling a ferocious fire at the site.  An explosion rocked the building and threw Fireman Sunderland and several colleagues through the windows.  He died of his injuries, while others were taken to the infirmary.  Almost the entire building was destroyed, with hundreds of shop windows blown out along The Rock.  The nearby church took full force of the blast with £1,000 of damage to its stained glass windows.  While many other cities and towns had their centres destroyed by Nazi bombing raids, Bury’s was destroyed from within.  It was not believed that arson was to blame for the tragic events, however evidence later suggested the fire originated in or near to the heating apparatus.  The fire was discovered at approximately 6 am, the alarm being raised by a local railway worker.  Firemen from Bury and the surrounding districts were rushed to the scene.  They at once concentrated their efforts on preventing the fire spreading and tackled the flames from inside the building.  The fatal explosion occurred at 7.30 am.  An inquest was opened on Fireman Sunderland’s death at the Coroner’s office, Colonel R.M. Barlow adjudicating.  A verdict of accidental death was recorded.  It is often said that the spirit of Fireman Sunderland haunts the Officers’ Mess, where the accident happened.

A severe labour shortage in 1951 caused serious delays to the Drill Hall extension and restoration after the fire.  Work completion was expected for the end of 1951, but took a further six months to complete.

Three plaques adorn the East wall of the Drill Hall commemorating those who fell in two World Wars and the Boer War.  The Lancashire Fusiliers has a proud history, winning many Victoria Crosses for its soldiers’ heroism, notably the ‘six VC’s before breakfast’ won at Gallipoli in 1915.  129 officers and men fell before successfully capturing the beachhead. 

After the Labour Government’s Strategic Defence Review in 1998, the Fusiliers at Bury were merged into the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers.  For historical reasons their name was preserved in the new title deeds, so a platoon of Fusiliers still resides at Castle Armoury, proudly displaying a hackle with their cap badge.  Castle Armoury is also home to the Head quarters East Lancashire Wing of the Air Training Corps and the Bury Detachment of the Manchester Army Cadet Force.  In addition G Squadron of 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers), arrived as the lead unit in the summer of 1999.   It is envisaged that Castle Armoury will continue to provide suitable training and social amenities for members of the Territorial Army and the cadet organisations for many years to come.