Musical heritage

1965

In the beginning... The hall was a well-known venue for the Canterbury
1896 Sound in the 1960’s.

Before the hall was constructed, Masters’ Exotic Nusery

stood on the site. Dismantled in 1896, it was a notable, 30
acre, exotic garden with two mineral springs.
World War I
This map illustrates the site in 1822. 1915
From 1915, the drill hall was the base for the 4th & 5th
Battalions of the Buffs and the Royal East Kent) Mounted
Rifles.
Air raids
1970's onwards
Between the wars 1944
1970
1918 The hall narrowly survived a World War II air raid in 1944,
Known simply as “the drill hall” after the war, the hall was
Between the wars, the Victorian building next door to the when a bomb destroyed the nearby Barrett’s buildings.
taken over by the Council in the early 1970s and renamed
drill hall was knocked through to make a larger space, and as the Westgate Hall.
The hall is built the foyer given its existing art deco fittings. Besides continuing use as a drill hall, it was also briefly
1899 used as a hospital during World War II.
From then onwards, to the present day, it has been used
Dances regularly by diverse groups, such as:
The hall was built between 1899 and 1900.
1920 Peacetime use
Although it’s not clear if it was built specifically for the
1955 Belly Dancing
local Rifle Volunteers, early in its history it was known as St It was common practice for drill halls to be used for dances
Peter’s Lane Drill Hall and was used by them. and dinner events. Since the war, the hall has been used for numerous CEROC
community events after the war, such as the Christmas Salsa-asi
The Rifle Volunteers were amalgamated into the Territorial This invitation from 1920 is one example of the many fayre in 1955 shown in this picture. National Blood Service
Force in 1908. events hosted in the hall. Antiques Fair
Postcard Fair
A new name Dolly Daydreams
The Buffs Mothers' Union 1937 National Childbirth Trust
1908 1927 In 1937 the Territorial Drill Hall, as it was then renamed, Beverley Big Band
From 1908, the hall was used by the 4th Battalion, The Records show the hall was used for a Mothers’ Union was still the base for the 4th Battalion of the Buffs, and also Canterbury In Bloom
Buffs, Companies B and C. conference in 1927. used by the Duke of Connaught’s Own Yeomanry RA385. Guy and Mavis

1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975