THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS (RIFLES) MUSEUM

OPening hours: 10am-4pm (last entry 3:30pm)

"One of the best regimental museums in the country"
Situated adjacent to Winchester’s Great Hall and within easy walking distance of the city centre, The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, opened in 1989, is one of the best regimental museums in the country. It is also one of Winchester’s six military museums visited by thousands every year. The Museum records, visually, graphically and entertainingly, the history of The Royal Green Jackets and their predecessors who were three of the finest and most famous regiments in the British Army. In the same building, but separate to the Museum, is The Rifles Museum  allowing visitors to follow the story of Rifle Regiment into the present day.

What’s on offer
Laid out chronologically, the museum’s displays tell of the part played by the regiments in campaigning for peace over two and half centuries, and how the regiments’ approach to soldiering and readiness to adopt new ideas were often ahead of the rest. The Museum also provides a fitting focus on courage with a special Victoria Cross display, including a touch screen giving visitors access to detailed information about the actions and personal histories of each of the regiments’ 59 Victoria Cross winners.

Tickets can be purchased online here or on the front desk when you arrive.

​Popular attractions

• The Waterloo diorama is a favourite. It features a 25 square metre model of the battlefield with 30,000 model soldiers and horses, plus a 5 minute sound and light commentary describing what happened on 18 June 1815, the day of the battle.
• With the Centenary of First World War events providing much food for thought in all UK towns and cities between 2014 and 2018, the Museum’s new displays place great emphasis on the human dimension, the Home Front, the impact of the war upon families and on Remembrance.
• The Victoria Cross display includes a touch screen giving visitors access to detailed information about the actions and personal histories of each of the regiments’ 59 Victoria Cross winners including medal groups of Major Billy Congreve VC DSO MC and Sergeant Bill Gregg VC DCM MM of The Rifle Brigade.
• The uniform worn by ‘Andy McNab’ DCM MM of Bravo Two Zero fame when he was a prisoner of the Iraqis during the first Gulf War (1991).
• The lead lined teapoy used by Napoleon during his captivity on St Helena (1815 – 21) which was retrieved by one of his gaolers and donated to the Museum in 2001.

THE COLLECTION

Artefacts and Objects

• Our Collection is wide ranging and diverse with many interesting artefacts on display.  The Medal Collection covers campaigns from the 18th – 21st Century; medals are displayed throughout the Museum as well as in the Medal Room.
• Documents
• The museum has an extensive archive of documents ranging from letters written by Black Bob Craufurd in the Peninsular War to items from the present day.
• Photographs
• We have 23,000 photographs in our archives, plus albums. We regularly feature a photograph from our collection in our on-line gallery.
• In total there are over 40,000 objects of considerable historical interest in the Museum, including uniforms, medals, weapons, silver, paintings and other items.
• The Museum also has a substantial collection of archival material – letters, diaries, maps, documents and photographs – which may be viewed by appointment. Museum personnel are sometimes able to undertake research on behalf of those unable to visit.

Families 
Click here to view: Our Family Visual Guide
At the museum we have a variety of different family activities:

• Museum Trails- there are a variety of museum trails for all ages available at the museum these are changed regularly  especially half terms. 
• Art and Crafts - Most half terms there are art and craft activities in the museum gallery. 
• Handling a Musket,  Baker Rifle and Lee-Enfield 
• Dressing up in military uniforms 
• Playing with the toy soldiers 
• Write a letter as a soldier, mother, father, sibling or loved one and post it in our post boxes.  
• Quiet colouring available in the gallery. 

And lots more!

The Museum regularly organises special events, such as exhibitions, lectures and ‘Fun for All’ days during children’s school holidays.

Check out our museum shop here

Contact us on: 
[email protected] 
Meg Boreham
01962 828549
www.rgjmuseum.co.uk