The Army Drill Hall in Paisley was designed by local architect TG Abercrombie, and built in 1896. Abercombie served with the TA himself as a captain in the 2nd Renfrewshire Rifle Volunteers (later the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders). The building is now abandoned, and rather trashed, but it’s still worth a visit.
The bottom fault on this board sounds painful:
And you wouldn’t want to hurt yourself on the nasty gun:
Watch a full-screen slideshow, or browse the full image collection:
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Brilliant pictures. Lived in Paisley all my life and always wanted to see inside this building. It’s amazing they’ve left so much behind. Hope they can develop that building soon as it is too good to go to ruin right in the town centre.
Also, great website and photos. You have inspired me to take up urbexing (might visit the TA myself) and I follow your RSS feeds on my Palm. Keep up the good work.
Thanks 😉
It is lovely – those corner turret rooms would be a fantastic place to sit and read…
Great series of photographs. I recall the TA Drill Hall from my schooldays in Paisley.It is a pity that the building is being left to decay. I hope that a use can be found for it. The nearby John Neilson School has been turned into flats, so here’s hoping.
It breaks my heart to see the state this grand old building is now in. I served with the Royal Engineers (T.A.) in this Hall until 1995, retiring just before they moved to the new T.A. centre in the east end of the town. What was a beautiful parque floor in the main hall ended up cheap tarmacadam. I know many local men who spent great times there. Thanks for posting the photos.
It saddens me te see the state the old drill hall building is in. I virtually grew up there and have many happy memories from the 50’s and 60’s when my father was the battery sgt-mjr of R Paisley battery 277 A&SH RA TA until they were disbanded in 1967.
This old building brings back many memories, I served as a cadet and then as a member of the 277th A&SH in the late 1950’s, early 1960’s. It is a shame to see it in such disrepair.
My father was based here after WW2 in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. I remember tanks being stored, Christmas parties for us kids, and shooting in the range when I was in the ATC.
My gran and papa where the caretakers here they lived in the wee house that was attached to the building I remember the Christmas parties fondly
Sad to see the condition of the old Drill Hall. I was with R Battery when it was 402 light regiment and when it changed to 277 field Regiment I became the Signal Sergeant until the regiment was disbanded. I was also with the engineers until 1969. An interesting fact about the turret room on the top floor is that it was a signal stores until 1961 then it was moved downstairs. The top floor room adjoining the turret room was the main battery stores until the regiment changed from a light regiment (4.2″ Mortars) to a field regiment with 25 pounders. I also remember the BSM Sanny Verner