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]
