| Blackheath drill hall | |
|---|---|
| London | |
 Blackheath drill hall | |
  Blackheath drill hall Location within London | |
| Coordinates | 51°28′14″N0°00′20″W / 51.47046°N 0.00544°W |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1938 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1938-21st Century |
Blackheath drill hall is a military installation at Blackheath in London that currently houses C (London) Company of the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, and is also used by the Army Cadets.
The site was originally occupied by Holly Hedge House, a building built in the 18th century for the younger sons of the Earls of Dartmouth. [1] The house was acquired for military use in 1887. [1] The site became the headquarters of the 3rd Kent Volunteer Rifle Corps, a unit which became the 20th Battalion, London Regiment (Blackheath and Woolwich) in 1908. [2] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to the Western Front. [3] In the mid 1930s the London Regiment was broken up and the 20th Battalion, London Regiment converted to become the 34th Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery in 1935. [2] A purpose built drill hall was constructed on the site for that unit in 1938. [1]
During the Second World War the original house was badly damaged by bombing, and it was subsequently demolished in 1946. [1] After the war the purpose-built drill hall was enlarged to accommodate better messing facilities and to incorporate the staircase from the old house. [1] The 34th Searchlight Regiment evolved to become the 569th (The Queen's Own) Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery after the war [2] but, following an amalgamation, the searchlight unit left the site in 1955. [4] The drill hall was instead occupied by a rifle company of the 10th Battalion the Parachute Regiment. The site is now a reserve centre for the C (London) Company of the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, [5] and is also used as the sector headquarters and 94 Cadet Detachment Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Army Cadet Force. [2]
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