Army Cadet Hall, Sidmouth, Devon - August 09

After a couple of months break from urbexy stuff, I had the sudden urge to go on an explore yesterday. Unfortunately I missed the bus I wanted, so I decided to get on the next bus that came along, wherever it was headed! It happened to be Sidmouth! I didn't expect to find anything but enjoyed a good wander, taking pics of buildings and boats, when I came across this!

The frontage is on the seafront near to where the River Sid runs out to sea.






Not much of an explore as access inside was most definitely denied, but it made for a nice mooch around the outside and beneath parts of the building. Getting onto the site is fairly easy, albeit in a knees-bent-twisted-crabways-contortiony kind of way.

The rear of the building.


Next door to this there's a yard worked by a fisherman/fish monger (the fount of all local wisdom in seaside towns ), and he told me a bit about the place. It was built for the army cadets sometime during the 70's, and subsequently sold to the council by the MOD. The council are now trying to sell the building (good luck with that! ) and it has been bricked and welded up in order to keep out the local yobs.









Beneath the front entrance.










Oars inside.


Cheers.

Very interesting Foxy. I can see why the building caught your eye - at first glance it looks like any other. But... look at those floor level arches. I wonder why it looks like that? I think those old locals are hiding something - the building looks very industrial. Perhaps an ex brewery? The circular upper window looks industrial too - ex-ventialtion fan?

Mind you I could be way off the mark and it was once a church.

It was originally built as a drill hall for the local volunteer force in 1895. Take a look at the link.

http://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Devon/TownSidmouth.htm

Cheers for that steptoe.

The link mentions rooms costructed for armoury etc so I guess that's the reason for the archwork - to support the weight above. I have seen a similar set-up near me. It is a village hall (a big one) and it has extra room space below the stage and part of the floor. It is of a similar age too.

Welcome Back Foxy! Brill set of Shots there. Was the Building built on the base of something much older by any chance? I just love those Arches, they look very 19th Century?

Thanks for your comments, guys.

Cheers, Al. I like the 'forest' too.

Sausage, I must admit I was non-plussed at why a 1970's building should have those arches too, and wondered if it had been built on top of earlier foundations. The fisherman said it hadn't been there when he first began work in the yard as a youngster (he's 63).

Steptoe, that's some fantastic info there...thanks very much for that. I'd had a search, but couldn't find anything on the net. Just goes to show that you can't always trust a fisherman!

Black Shuck said:

Welcome Back Foxy! Brill set of Shots there. Was the Building built on the base of something much older by any chance? I just love those Arches, they look very 19th Century?

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Cheers, m'dear! Spot on according to the link Steptoe posted.
Nice bit of local history there to add to the mix.

Foxylady said:

Cheers, m'dear! Spot on according to the link Steptoe posted.
Nice bit of local history there to add to the mix.

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Excellent Stuff. Real pity that access was deneied so vehemently e.h!?