Wellington Museum

Apsley House
149 Piccadilly
Hyde Park Corner
London
W1V 9FA

Tel: (071) 499 5676 for further details.

The Duke of Wellington's Regimental Museum

Bankfield Museum
Akroyd Park
Halifax
HX3 6HG

The collection illustrates the history of the regiment from the raising of the 33rd Foot in 1702 and the 76th Foot in 1787 to the present day. The display emphasises uniforms and equipment, often in period settings. It includes material relating to local volunteer, militia and territorial forces, together with a display of relics associated with the Iron Duke himself. The reserve collection and archive may be studied by appointment.

Hours:

Tues-Sat & Bank Holiday Mondays 10.00-5.00, Sun 2.00-5.00. Closed Dec 24,26 and Jan 1.

Curator:

J Spencer BA Tel: (0422) 354823/352334.

On sale:

Museum shop stocks a small selection of regimental material including cap badge, ties and plaques. Publications include a short history of the regiment (48pp) and a full regimental history 1702-1992.

Facilities:

Disabled access to Regimental gallery and toilets with assistance. Free car park.

Directions:

1 mile from Halifax town centre on A647 Halifax-Queensbury-Bradford Road.

Royal Hospital, Chelsea Museum

Royal Hospital Road
Chelsea
London
SW3 4SR

The Royal Hospital was founded by Charles II as a home for the veterans of the Regular army who had become unfit for duty either after 20 years service or as a result of wounds. The Royal Hospital continues in this role today, caring for over 400 in-pensioners. The museum contains medals and uniforms of Pensioners who have lived in the Royal Hospital over the last 300 years, and also includes "Wellington Hall", devoted to Wellington and his battles.

Hours:

Mon-Sat 10.00-12.00, 2.00-4.00; Sun 2.00-4.00 April-Sept only. Closed on Public Holidays.

Curator:

Major R A G Courage CVO, MBE Tel: (071) 7300161 Ext 203.

Directions:

Underground to Sloane Square, 39, 11, 137.

Wellington Exhibition

Stratfield Saye House
Reading
Berkshire
RG7 2BT

The museum contains many personal possessions of the First Duke of Wellington and also an outline of his military and political career. A major feature is the 18 ton funeral hearse cast from melted down French cannon captured at Waterloo.

Nearby: Within easy travelling distance of museums in Aldershot, Winchester and Salisbury.

Admission:

Adults £4.00, children (5-15 years) £2.00. Admission includes entrance to the house and grounds.

Hours:

May-last Sun in Sept, Sat-Thur 11.30-4.00.

Comptroller:

P Aubrey-Fletcher, ARICS Tel: (0256) 882882.

Directions:

Equidistant from Reading (M4 Junction 11) and Basingstoke (M3 Junction 6) on A33. Follow tourist signs.

Nearby:

Within easy travelling distance of museums in Aldershot, Winchester and Salisbury.

Walmer Castle

Kingsdown Road
Deal
CT14 7LJ

Walmer Castle was built 1539-40 to protect the Downs anchorage within the Goodwin Sands, where the British Fleet lay to defend the Channel. Since the early 1700s it has been the official residence of the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports. Wellington held this post and lived there from 1829 until his death in 1852; the room where he lived and died has been preserved and contains the camp bed he used on his campaigns. The next room contains many mementos of the Duke, as does almost every room in the castle.

Admission:

Adult £3.00, OAPs £2.25, Children £1.50 (from 1/4/94).

Hours:

Mar 1-Apr 1 or Good Friday (whichever is earliest) Tues-Sun 10.00-4.00; then to Sept 10 10.00-6.00 daily. Closed Dec 24-26, Jan, Feb and Mon Oct 1-Mar 31 and when the Lord Warden is in residence.

Head Custodian:

Mr A F Parnell Tel: (0304) 3642288.

On sale:

Books and souvenirs.

Directions:

By bus from Deal, or 20 minutes walk along the sea front from Deal towards Dover.

Also of interest:

Deal Castle is also interesting, although not furnished in the manner of Walmer. It was built in 1540 and reflects the established supremacy of gunpowder, being made up almost entirely of gun emplacements.

DEAL itself has been associated with the Royal Marines since 1861 and there are usually activities taking place in which the Marines play a part concerts, parades etc. The Royal Marines School of Music is here.

Nearby:

ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN Between Walmer and Deal castles, in Kent, there is a pleasant walk along a stretch of empty pebble beach. Here Caesar's ships grated ashore and the standard bearer of the X Legion leapt into the water to wade ashore and start the invasion.