Locations & Buildings

Naming a regiment

Waterloo Place

In 1900 Col Burn was asked to raise troops for the South African war and Captain R Wynne was tasked to commence recruitment.

The first location which was used to start recruitment was at 19 Waterloo Place Pall Mall, a Post card of Waterloo Place which shows an image of how the area looked then and a modern view of the building.

Postcard of Waterloo Place

Modern Waterloo Place

Quatermasters Stores

In 1901 the offices moved to 102 Victoria Road which also housed the Quarter Masters Stores.

Unfortunately, this building did not survive the test of time and a modern building now stands over the area it would have been located.

Whilst located at 102 Victoria Road, Dismounted Drills were carried out at St Stevens Hall.

QM Stores - post demolishing

St Stevens Hall

Riding School

Mounted Drills were at ‘Tillings Riding School’ Peckham.

As time progressed, mounted drills were carried out on Woolwich & Wimbledon commons.

Later Squadron training was held at Bushy Park on Horses provided by the Duty Squadron at Hampton Court Palace.

Tillings Riding School

Riding School at Elverton Street

Laying the Foundation Stone

The Regiment numbered amongst its ranks some very wealthy and influential men (including, Lord Howard De- Walden and a Maharaja Shri Raj Rajeshwar Narayan Bhup Bahadur Cooch Behar).

It was this fact that enabled the Regiment to buy, build and equip the magnificent Headquarters at Elverton Street, Westminster, at a cost of £10,000 of which £7,000 was raised by the officers.

In 1907 the move to Elverton Street was completed.

Laying the foundation Stone

Officers at the laying of the Foundation Stone

Elverton Street

The Regiment numbered amongst its ranks some very wealthy and influential men (including, Lord Howard De- Walden and a Maharaja Shri Raj Rajeshwar Narayan Bhup Bahadur Cooch Behar).

It was this fact that enabled the Regiment to buy, build and equip the magnificent Headquarters at Elverton Street, Westminster, at a cost of £10,000 of which £7,000 was raised by the officers.

In 1907 the move to Elverton Street was completed which included an indoor riding school

Below are views of the property from 1999:

Picture 1 - View of the building from Horseferry Road

Picture 2 - Close up of main entrance, showing the Westminster Dragoons badge in stone relief above the doorway and further up the WD’s IY Headquarters display in stone.

Picture 3 - View from Elverton street showing hanger doors and main entrance. The five roller shutter doors from the left would have been the access to the stable areas and the 6th shutter would give access straight to the riding arena / Tank Park.

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Riding School at Elverton Street

The “Tank Park” with armoured vehicles used to be the Riding School, with stabling for twenty horses.

The riding school is big enough to enable a troop (sixteen) to be trained.

Upon the concrete floor 2ft 6 ins of faggots would be laid, with about a foot laid thereupon of clean tan bark.

Tank Park

Old Stables

The Drill Hall

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The Drill hall was located on the 1st floor with windows on both sides that looked out over Elverton Street and houses that were located in an adjacent road

Picture 3 - View from the stage end of the drill hall showing the main entrance doors. The balcony above the doors was designed to accommodate the band for dinners and events and at this time housed the bulk of the museum artifacts and paperwork that was not housed in cabinets throughout the building.

Picture 4 - Photograph showing the main entrance to drill hall with oak doors and Brass embossed WD badge finger plates and with a large mosaic WD badge in floor.

Picture 5 - View from the Museum / Band balcony showing the stage at the far end.

The Officers Mess

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Picture 6 - Showing the opulent layout and fittings and on the far wall the Westminster Dragoons Guidon with the Queen mothers portrait to the right of it ( The Queen Mother was our Honorary Colonel)

Picture 7 - Another view of the room, notice the wooden beams above the fireplaces, these were ditching beams cut down to size from WW1 tanks, also in between the two leather chairs is a “Jockeys” weighing chair.

Picture 8 - The third view shows the Officers dining room which can be made more into a congenial atmosphere by closing the panel doors. Notice another fireplace with ditching beam.

The Sergeants Mess

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Picture 9 – View from the back wall towards the entrance with the bar on the left. (knock, wait to be asked to enter and don’t forget to remove your beret). Photographs and pictures placed around the walls. On the left hand wall the Royal Yeomanry association banner in its frame.

Picture 10 – View from the entrance door, with the leather chairs and small tables dotted around. Notice two cabinets on the far wall containing silver artifacts. Fireplace with ditching beam.

The Other Ranks Mess, Dining Room

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Picture 11 – View from halfway into the OR’s mess, the main entrance door is just out of view and before the fireplace on the right.

Picture 12 – View of the other half of the mess, with the step to the entrance to the left and the large double doors in front which lead to the dining room. Shields from visiting or serving soldiers from other regiments line the wall and above the bar.

Picture 13 – This dining room could be used by the OR’s, but the main use was for large functions. Around the perimeter of the room cabinets with display items from the museum and the memorial fireplace was also located in the room

There were also a caretaker’s quarters which was situated at the top of the building with its own private entrance.

In 1908 with the establishment of the Territorial Army, the Regiment became Territorial Yeomanry instead of Imperial Yeomanry, and the Territorial Association took over the H.Q. but paid much less for it than it cost.