East street drill hall | |
Type: | Drill hall |
Map Type: | Greater London |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within Greater London |
Location: | Bromley |
Built: | 1872 |
Used: | 1872-1947 |
Built For: | War Office |
The East Street drill hall is a former military installation in Bromley.
The building was at first a music hall. It then became a drill hall for the 18th Kent Rifle Volunteers and was completed in 1872.[1] This unit went on to become E and F companies, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the Queen's Own West Kent Regiment in 1883[2] and the 5th Battalion, The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) in 1908.[3] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to India.[4] [5] After the battalion amalgamated with the 4th Battalion to form the 4th/5th Battalion at the Corn Exchange in Tonbridge in 1947, the East Street drill hall was decommissioned. Royal Mail then used it as a sorting office. It was converted for retail use in 1997.[6]