The building was designed as the headquarters of the 4th Volunteer Battalion, The Manchester Regiment and completed in 1885.

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

[3][4] The drill hall was substantially rebuilt in 1938 and then used as the headquarters of the 61st City of Manchester Battalion of the Home Guard during the Second World War.

[5] It was subsequently decommissioned and acquired by the Victoria University of Manchester, who used it as a Physical Education Centre and Islamic Prayer Hall.

[5] It was used by the Senior Training Corps and had a swimming bath, gymnasium and fives and squash courts.