The building originates from a pair of houses built in what was then known as New Street in 1833 and which were acquired by the 19th Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1865. The 19th Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps evolved to become the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) in 1883 and the
24th (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s) in 1908. The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to the
Western Front. When the London Regiment was broken up in 1937, the battalion became the 7th (Southwark) Battalion, the
Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). == Current units ==