{{Short description|Military installation in England}} {{Infobox military structure | name = Castle Armoury | image = The Castle Armoury - geograph.org.uk - 1690254.jpg | caption = Castle Armoury | type = Barracks | map_type = Greater Manchester | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Greater Manchester | location = Bury | coordinates = {{Coord|53.59422|N|2.29859|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | ownership = Ministry of Defence | operator = {{army|United Kingdom}} | built = 1868 | used = 1868- | architect = | built_for = War Office | garrison = | occupants = W company 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers<br/>B Detachment, 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital<br>Bury Detachment ACF<br>1036 (Bury) Squadron ATC }} The '''Castle Armoury''' is a military installation in Bury, Greater Manchester, England.
==History== The armoury was designed as the headquarters of the 8th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps and built on the remains of Bury Castle in 1868.<ref name=listed>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101067290-castle-armoury-east-ward#.WTPNL2jysdU|title=Castle Armoury|publisher=British Listed Buildings|accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref> An extension exhibiting the same architectural features was opened by the Duke of Connaught in November 1907.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/gallerynew/LFDepots/Wellingtonbarracks/wellingtonBarracks.htm|title=History of Castle Armoury|accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref> The 8th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps evolved to become the 1st Volunteer Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1883 and the 5th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1908.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wfanlancs.co.uk/despatch/Nov14_PDFs/LancashireNorthDespatch_Nov2014.pdf|title=Fusiliers in Bury|page=17|publisher=Western Front Association|date=30 November 2014|accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref> The battalion was mobilised at the armoury in September 1914 before being deployed to the Suez Canal, then to Gallipoli and ultimately to the Western Front.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/tourspostings/1-5thLFToursPostings.htm|title=1st/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers: Tours and Postings|publisher=Lancashire Fusiliers|accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref> The armoury remained the home of the 5th battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers through the inter-war period.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bury.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=15099&p=0|title=Bury County Borough Directory|year=1936|publisher=Metropolitan Borough of Bury|accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref>
A major fire took hold at the armoury in January 1943 during the Second World War, in which a fireman died and the building was seriously damaged, and it was not until summer 1952 that the restoration was complete.<ref name=history/> After the war the armoury continued to be used by the 5th battalion the Lancashire Fusiliers until the battalion was disbanded in 1967. The armoury was then used by a company of the 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, a unit which evolved following amalgamations to become the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers in July 1999 and 4th Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment in July 2006.<ref name=history/> It is a Grade II Listed building.<ref name=listed/>
The building closed in June 2022 with the owners, a trust, citing safety grounds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Britton |first=Paul |date=2022-07-04 |title=Historic drill hall Castle Armoury in Bury closes |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/historic-castle-armoury-in-bury-24392867 |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref> The leaser, the Ministry of Defence's Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association stated that funding was not available to carry out the estimated £2 million of urgent repairs, with further work required to modernise the building.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nooks and Corners |work=Private Eye |issue=1579 |page=22|date=12 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-22 |title=‘Woefully neglected’ armed forces base had ‘no hot water or heating’ for soldiers returning from active service |url=https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/20298751.burys-castle-armoury-site-no-hot-water-heating-soldiers-returning-active-service/ |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=Bury Times |language=en}}</ref>
==Former units== The following units were based at the armoury immediately before its closure:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve-centres/north-west/bury-castle-street-armoury|title=Castle Armoury|accessdate=17 April 2021}}</ref>
'''British Army'''
*W (Gallipoli) Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/128742/fusilier-from-middleton-set-for-training-mission-in-canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416232158/https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/128742/fusilier-from-middleton-set-for-training-mission-in-canada|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 16, 2021|title=Fusilier from Middleton set for training mission in Canada|publisher=Rochdale News|date=30 June 2019|accessdate=17 April 2021}}</ref> *B Detachment, 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qaranc.co.uk/Army-Reserve-QARANC.php|title=Army Reserve QARANC|accessdate=17 April 2021}}</ref> *Lancashire Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrfbandlancs.org.uk/#history|title=The Band & Corp of Drums of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers|accessdate=17 April 2021}}</ref>
'''Community Cadet Forces''' *Bury Detachment, Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force<ref>{{cite web|url=https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/|title=Greater Manchester Army Cadets|accessdate=17 April 2021}}</ref> *1036 (Bury) Squadron, Greater Manchester Wing, Air Training Corps<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/find-a-squadron/north/greater-manchester-wing-hq/1036-bury/|title=1036 (Bury)|accessdate=17 April 2021}}</ref>
==See also== {{portal|Greater Manchester}} *Listed buildings in Bury
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{Buildings and structures in Bury}}
Category:Drill halls in England Category:Grade II listed buildings in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury Category:Military installations established in 1868