Back Lane drill hall, Newtown

The building was designed as the headquarters of the 5th Volunteer Battalion, The South Wales Borderers and was completed in 1897.^[1] This unit evolved to become the 7th Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1908.^[2] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to Gallipoli and ultimately to the Western Front.^[3]

After the Second World War, the battalion converted to become the 636th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (Royal Welch) and then amalgamated with the 635th (Royal Welch) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery to form the 446th (Royal Welch) Airborne Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery at Caernarfon Barracks in 1955.^[2] The Back Lane drill hall was then decommissioned and was subsequently used for local community events including amateur dramatics.^[4]