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The Armoury on Old Street in Ashton is the local Territorial Army training base. It was built in 1887 as a training base for volunteer soldiers, replacing an earlier building near Charlestown Station. The Volunteers were replaced by the Territorial Force following the Haldane Reforms in 1908.

It was the home of the 9th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment which began in 1859 when two companies of rifle volunteers were formed in Ashton Under Lyne, this later swelled to four companies who were attached to the 31st (Oldham) Lancashire Rifle Volunteers in 1863 and designated the 7th admin battalion. Later in 1866 they became the 23rd Lancashire Rifle Volunteers. Link

A full account of the battalion and their extensive "War Diary" can be read on the Ashton Pals website: Link

Users of the Armoury in 2014 include:

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force (Ashton Detachment) Link

247 Ashton under Lyne Squadron which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation, the UK's premier uniformed youth organisation. They are based at Ashton TA Centre and parade twice per week. Link

207 (Manchester) Field Hospital, one of 11 Army Reserve field hospitals in the British Army with centres in Manchester, Stockport, Ashton, Bury and Blackburn and which forms part of the Army Medical Services (AMS) which provides medical support to UK Forces on operations overseas. Link

Ashton under Lyne Branch of the Royal British Legion meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at The Armoury commencing at 7:30pm. Link

The King's and Manchester Regiments Association (Ashton-under-Lyne Branch) which is based at Ardwick Green SJ8597 : Ardwick Barracks.

The use of the Armoury as a Wedding or Conference Venue is looked after by Alternative Venues North West Link who maintain 40 Army Reserve Centres on behalf of The Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for The North West of England and Isle of Man.

In 2015 its future is in doubt: MEN news report Link