The Battersea Palace originally opened as the Washington Music Hall in 1886 and was built for George Washington Moore who managed the Theatre for the next 8 years.

The Theatre was originally planned to be called the Royal Standard Music Hall before it opened but this name was never used, possibly because it could have been confused with the Royal Standard Music Hall in Victoria. The Theatre was however sometimes known as the Standard (Washington) Music Hall on various occasions until 1900.

The Theatre had a seating capacity of 600.

In 1900 the Theatre was renamed the Battersea Palace of Varieties but the following year the name reverted back to the Washington Music Hall.

In 1902 it was renamed the New Battersea Empire but by 1903 it was known as the more simple Battersea Empire. This name remained until 1908 when the Theatre was renamed the Palace Theatre of Varieties.

In 1917 the Theatre was renamed again, this time to the Battersea Palace, a name it retained until its closure in 1924 and was subsequently demolished.

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed at the Washington Music Hall, Battersea in 1890 and 1892.

Also see in this area Clapham's Theatres and Cinemas.