Home of the Infantry Regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire
Update 25
'Ordinary people extraordinary courage'.
Redeveloping The Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum
Update 25- Redeveloping the Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum
The Museum
For over forty years, The Wardrobe in Salisbury Cathedral Close has proudly housed the military heritage of Berkshire and Wiltshire's historic infantry regiments. Originally opened by HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, during an official ceremony in 1982, the museum has welcomed thousands of visitors over the years, educating the public on local military history. In 2023 alone, we welcomed over 6,000 visitors to The Wardrobe, with people coming to the museum from across the country and all over the world.
'Update 25'
However, as audiences adapt, so must our museum.
Beginning in November 2024, The Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum is due to undergo a transformational, once-in-a-generation redevelopment project. Entitled 'Update 25', this project will see the museum begin afresh, by rejuvenating its galleries in a manner that will preserve our heritage for many years to come. 
Birds-eye overview of the new galleries.
The new galleries will engage visitors on a new and modern level. By utilising the latest touchscreen technologies, we will be able to display more of our collection and engage with visitors on a sensory level, with film footage, archival materials and music. These changes will also acknowledge our responsibilities towards accesibility within our museum.
These new galleries will take the public through the 'Golden Thread' of our history, guiding people through the 'Golden Thread' of our history. This will stretch from the formation of the Regiments of Foot (49th, 62nd, 66th, and 99th) through the 'Age of Empires' and the establishment of the Duke of Edinburgh's Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Berkshire Regiment. Our displays will also pay homage to the immense sacrifice of the Wiltshire and Royal Berkshire Regiments during the First and Second World Wars, before delving into the Cold War and post- Cold War eras with the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment respectively. We will also delve into the modern military, with the formation of the modern Rifles Regiment.
Through the brilliant work of our design company, Scribble & Nonsense, we are also proud to share a video walkthrough of the prospective galleries. Click HERE to walk through our new museum!
Fundraising
Our Board of Trustees have agreed to provide significant funding to initiate the project. This vital funding will enable the museum to move forward with the initial stages of the project, enabling us to develop our galleries.
However, to ensure that the redevelopment reaches the standards expected, we are looking to raise an additional £100,000. This will go towards specific elements of the project, such as the installation of brand new touchscreen displays in order to engage a younger generation of visitors with our history. We are also looking to improve our outreach offer, providing education for local schools, matching the expectations of the school curriculum from early years to GCSE.
The museum is currently in the process of raising funds through a variety of means, such as events, donations and our 'Supporting Wall' scheme (click the tab at the top of this page to find out more)- but we need your help!
This ambitious project will ensure the preservation of our local military heritage for many years to come. Donating will help to ensure that Berkshire & Wiltshire's military history is in looked after for future generations.
If you would like to contribute to 'Update 25', donate using the link HERE.
Please donate generously!