The Drill Hall is a distinctive, castle-style building in Newport that has stood on-guard on Lower Dock Street since being built in 1867.
The eye-catching, three-storey sandstone and bathstone main facade is flanked by castle turrets at each corner, ensuring the property has become one of the landmark buildings within the Stow Hill area.
The website britishlistedbuildings states the property gained a Grade II listing in 1999 due it being a 'striking castellated building in a conservation area'.
According to Newport City Council's Lower Dock Street Conservation Area Appraisal report, the Drill Hall in 1904 became the base for the 4th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers, formerly the 3rd Corps of The Monmouthshire Rifle Volunteers.
During its history the building has gone through a number of uses including a religious base known as the Abundant Life Centre.
According to the charity commission website, this registered charity states that they provide counselling services and a venue for recreation, religious and social amenities for the community.
But the property has also suffered a number of traumas during its history.
In March 2018 the property, not for the first time, suffered a devastating fire mainly within the front section of the building, destroying the roof and a large section at the rear of the building.
It was reported at the time that a significant part of the actual drill hall had collapsed.
This footage from 2018 shows the fire raging:
Neighbouring businesses and properties were evacuated and the road was closed.
At the time, more than 32 firefighters and five officers from eight stations across south east Wales were in attendance.
Five fire appliances, two aerial ladder platforms, one heavy rescue tender and three water bowsers were used to tackle the Drill Hall blaze, which was described by the fire service as 'well-developed' when they arrived.
Martyn and Graham Sheppard, who run nearby George Street Furnishers, were co-owners of the building at the time of this most recent fire.
At the scene of the 2018 fire Martyn told WalesOnline that this was not the first blaze the Drill Hall had suffered, following a similar incident in 2016.
That earlier incident significantly damaged mainly the rear of the building where the drill hall itself once stood.
Martyn, then aged 58, said: "We were rebuilding it from a fire two years ago. It was under repair so the building was vacant.
"We were getting it repaired and then we were going to find a tenant. We were probably going to put apartments there and something for the community.
"There was a church there for the last 20 years so another church might have taken it over."
Now the Drill Hall in Newport is hoping for a new lease of life as it goes to auction for a guide price of £180,000 as a potential residential renovation project.
According to the auction house selling the building, a redevelopment scheme has been drawn up which has had pre-planning approval from Newport City Council and Cadw.
Anyone considering bidding on the Drill Hall should contact both of these authorities pre-auction for detailed discussions about the plans and the future of the hall, especially as it is a listed building within the heart of one of Newport's conservation areas.
The scheme suggests that the main hall is retained whilst the three-storey front section of the property could incorporate up to eight self-contained apartments.
There may be an option to extend the residential use into the main drill hall rear section but this would, of course, as with any changes to the site, only be possible with the necessary planning and listed building consents.
Currently the building comprises an entrance hall, former offices and meeting rooms and the remains of the drill hall on the ground floor.
Up a stone spiral staircase in the front 'castle' section reveals more offices and rooms on the first floor plus another spiral staircase to the top floor.
This top floor also had a complex of rooms but, as well as the roof, has suffered severe fire damage.
The auction house states that the tenure is advised freehold but this must be verified by a solicitor plus the property is sold with vacant possession.
The Drill Hall is up for online auction on Thursday, September 10 via the Paul Fosh Auctions website for a guide price of £180,000 and a minimum opening bid of £160,000.
For further details about the property, the planning and auction details, contact the company on 01633 254044.
