Drill Hall History

The 1st Cornwall (Duke of Cornwall's) Artillery Volunteers were formed in 1860 as a response to a French invasion threat. They served as a Coast Artillery unit during both World Wars, and also manned batteries serving overseas. The unit continued in existence until the dissolution of Coast Artillery in the UK in 1956. 

No. 8 Co. 1^st Cornwall (Duke of Cornwall’s) Volunteer Artillery,

Western Division, Royal Artillery (Kelly 1893) Boer War 

‘Cornwall (Duke of Cornwall’s) Royal Garrison Artillery, (No 4 Company)’ ( Kelly 1914) World War 1 

The Drill Hall has a terracotta medallion above the door bearing three field guns and the number 12. The royal artillery symbols indicate that this is the Drill Hall of no.12 Battery (Marazion) Royal Artillery Volunteers, formed on the 30^th January 1861.In 1864 an additional 32 pounder smooth bore gun was sent to the hall and in 1870 one gun was removed to Ludgvan. On 3^rd May 1878 the Drill Hall was disbanded and in 1880 it was renumbered no. 9. One 64 pounder rifled muzzle-loading gun was issued in 1881 to no.7 Halle Battery to be used also at Marazion. In 1883 the hall was renumbered no. 8.

The Drill Hall dates between 1861 and 1880.

 

Badge of the Cornwall Artillery Volunteers on the Drill Hall of the 12th (Marazion) Corps, c1870

   

After the wars it became Mounts Bay Garage, with the Blue Beaker Café next door in what is now Pop’s Cottage

The Dawson Family (My Great Grand parents, GrandParents and Mum) lived here from 1959-1968