Blackheath drill hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackheath drill hall |
|
|---|---|
| London | |
Blackheath drill hall
|
|
 Blackheath drill hall
Location within London
|
|
| Coordinates | 51°28′14″N 0°00′20″W / 51.47046°N 0.00544°W |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1938 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1938-Present |
Blackheath drill hall is a special building in Blackheath, London. It's a place where soldiers and cadets train and prepare for their duties. It has been used for military training for a long time.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hall's History
From Old House to Military Base
The land where the drill hall now stands once held a house called Holly Hedge House. This house was built in the 1700s. It was home to the younger sons of the Earls of Dartmouth.
In 1887, the military bought the house. It became the main office for a group called the 3rd Kent Volunteer Rifle Corps. This group later changed its name in 1908. It became the 20th Battalion, London Regiment (Blackheath and Woolwich).
World War I and New Beginnings
When World War I started in August 1914, soldiers from this battalion gathered at the drill hall. From there, they went to fight on the Western Front.
In the mid-1930s, the London Regiment was reorganized. The 20th Battalion became a new unit in 1935. This new unit was the 34th Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery. Searchlight regiments used powerful lights to spot enemy aircraft at night.
A brand-new drill hall was built on the site for this new unit in 1938. This is the building you see today.
World War II and Beyond
During World War II, the original Holly Hedge House was badly damaged. Bombs hit it, and it had to be taken down in 1946.
After the war, the newer drill hall was made bigger. It got better places for soldiers to eat and relax. They even used the staircase from the old house in the new building!
The 34th Searchlight Regiment changed its name again after the war. It became the 569th (The Queen's Own) Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery. However, this searchlight unit moved out in 1955.
Who Uses the Hall Today?
After the searchlight unit left, a different group moved in. This was a rifle company from the 10th Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
Today, the Blackheath drill hall is still very active. It is home to 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals. It also hosts the local headquarters and 94 Cadet Detachment Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which is part of the Army Cadet Force. This means young people train there too!
