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Today is Thursday, 15 May, 2008. |
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History of the Ware Drill Hall
Mr. Robert Hanbury endowed the funding for the Mission Hall in Amwell End. In March 1888 Amwell End became part of Ware. There were eleven courtyards with unsanitary slum cottages housing about 700 people. As part of Christ Church’s missionary work, who was vicar from 1880 to 1914 was Revd Alfred Oates, a Mission Hall and Working Men’s Room was built next to what is now Club Nautica (previously Beckets).
It was his Grandson Edmund S Hanbury (his own son Robert having died in 1867) who agreed with Revd Oates and Dr A J Boyd, Officer Commanding of the local Volunteers, to have the Drill Hall built on the site of Dickenson’s Yard for use by the whole community. The demolition of 24 slum cottages provided the space as they were re- housed in Coronation Road.
News of the plans was published in The Herts. Guardian with details and final price of £5,250 on 6th May 1899. The Boer War started in October 1899, which prevented a special opening of the Drill Hall as planned.
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