The building was designed as the headquarters of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment and completed in the early 20th century.

[1] The battalion was mobilised at the drill hall in August 1914 before being deployed to Gallipoli and ultimately to the Western Front.

[2] More recruits, this time for Z Company, the 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington), East Lancashire Regiment, were also assembled at the drill hall the following month.

[1] The drill hall was decommissioned and it became a well-established boxing venue during the 1930s.

[4][5] It was used by the Home Guard during the Second World War[6] and currently operates as a snooker club.