With hundreds of military museums in the UK alone, how do you know which one will best suit your interests? Here, MHM has picked some of the best museums and exhibitions to visit this year, from hidden gems to long-established sites.
FIREPOWER – THE ROYAL ARTILLERY MUSEUM
In their own words …
By 1914, man found that he had the weapons, technology and ability to kill, maim and destroy on an industrial scale. For the first time he fought in the sky, on land, on the sea, and below the waves. It was a war that touched everyone – including civilians – and at its end there probably wasn’t a town, village, or family that hadn’t in some way been affected by this war’s cruelty.
‘In Their Own Words’ brings to life Gunners from different nations, separated 100 years ago by their country’s political ideology, the colour of their uniforms, or skin. Now 100 years on, as we look back upon their history and read their words, we realise that they are all united in the fact that they are all Gunners; this is their museum.
ADDRESS: No1 Street, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, SE18 6ST
TEL: 020 8855 7755
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEB: www.firepower.org.uk
OPENING TIMES:
Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm (last admission 4pm)
Sunday and Monday Closed
THE FUSILIER MUSEUM
The Fusilier Museum in Bury, Lancashire, is home to the collections of XX The Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Documenting more than 300 years of history and heritage through permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum tells the rich and fascinating stories of the people who have served and continue to serve.
The museum has recently completed a £1.4m Heritage Lottery Fund project to redevelop the top floor, which includes the relocation of The Fusilier Archive, a new state-of-the-art conference and events space The Minden Suite, and The Quartermaster’s Store. This new exhibition space is the only store of its kind in a military museum in the UK and enables the museum to display more of its ever-growing collection.
ADDRESS: Moss Street, Bury, BL9 0DF
TEL: 0161 763 8950
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEB: www.fusiliermuseum.com
OPENING TIMES:
Monday-Friday 10am-5pm (last admission 4pm)
Saturday 10am-4pm
PEOPLE’S HISTORY MUSEUM
Sat 24 May – Sun 1 February 2015
‘A Land Fit For Heroes: War and the Working Class 1914-1918’
A Land Fit For Heroes examines how the war changed society, radically altering the social, economic, cultural, and political outlook of the British people. It looks at why people supported the war (and those who didn’t), the role that women played in the war effort, how home life was radically changed, the influence the war had on politics and the labour movement, and life after the war. The exhibition is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and is also part of the First World War Centenary Programme.
Suitable for all ages.
In order to keep our exhibitions programme affordable to everyone, please make a donation.
ADDRESS: People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Manchester M3 3ER
TEL: 0161 838 9190
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEB: www.phm.org.uk
OPENING TIMES:
Monday-Sunday 10.00am-5.00pm, including Bank Holidays
THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM LONDON
The Royal Air Force Museum’s London site is located in Colindale, north-west London. Admission to the museum is free of charge. As part of its calendar of events commemorating the outbreak of the First World War, the museum is currently displaying an exhibition of First World War Art – ‘Biggles and Chums’.
Consisting of drawings and paintings, each artwork has never been seen by the public. Each one has been specifically chosen for the powerful story that it has to tell – made all the more poignant as each artwork has been created by an artist who either served or lived through the First World War, including Biggles’ creator himself Captain W.E. Johns.
Located in the museum’s Art Gallery, Biggles and Chums is on display until 4 January 2015.
ADDRESS: Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5LL
TEL: 020 8205 2266
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEB: www.rafmuseum.org
OPENING TIMES:
Open daily 10am-6pm
This to see this article as it appeared in issue 51 of Military History Monthly, click here.
