Kings Avenue drill hall, Clapham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kings Avenue drill hall |
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Kings Avenue drill hall
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 Kings Avenue drill hall
Location within Greater London
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| Coordinates | 51°27′20″N 0°07′45″W / 51.4556°N 0.1292°W |
| Type | Drill hall |
| Site history | |
| Built | Early 20th century |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | Early 20th century - 2020 |
The Kings Avenue drill hall, sometimes called Melbourne House, was a military building in Clapham, London. A drill hall is a place where soldiers train and get ready for their missions. This building played an important role for many years.
Contents
A Home for Soldiers
The Start of the Drill Hall
The Kings Avenue drill hall was built in the early 1900s. It was made to be the main base for a group of soldiers known as the Surrey Yeomanry. This group was part of the British Army.
Soldiers Prepare for War
In August 1914, the Surrey Yeomanry soldiers gathered at this drill hall. They were getting ready to go to war. From here, they were sent to a place called Salonika. This was during World War I.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the Surrey Yeomanry group changed its name and its role several times.
- In 1922, they became the 98th (Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry, Queen Mary's) Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
- Later, in 1947, they were known as the 298 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
- By 1961, their name changed again to the 263 (Surrey Yeomanry, Queen's Mary's) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
A New Location
The unit was eventually closed down in 1967. However, it was soon started again as a smaller group. This new group moved to Sutton in 1969.
What Happened to the Drill Hall?
New Military Units Arrive
After the Surrey Yeomanry moved out, the Kings Avenue drill hall became home to other military groups. A part of the 210 Ambulance Squadron used the building. This squadron was from the 151 (Greater London) Transport Regiment, which was part of the Royal Corps of Transport. Later, this group became part of the Royal Logistic Corps.
From Training to Filming
Eventually, the military stopped using the drill hall. It was no longer needed for soldier training. Instead, the building found a new purpose. It was used as a place for filming movies or TV shows.
The End of an Era
In April 2020, the Kings Avenue drill hall was taken down. This means it was demolished. A new building was planned for the site. A new school, called Harris Clapham Sixth Form College, was built there. It was set to open in September 2021.
