Royal Artillery Museum gains lottery support for new museum at Larkhill

The Royal Artillery Museum has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Guns on the Plain project.

Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project aims to bring together military, veteran and civilian communities at a dynamic, accessible and sustainable museum and collections centre at Larkhill, home of the Royal Artillery.

Development funding of £286,999 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to help the Royal Artillery Museum progress their plans to apply for a full grant of £4.6million at a later date. The Royal Artillery Museum holds one of the oldest and most significant of all military collections, but without this funding from the Heritage Fund, much of it would remain in storage and inaccessible to the public, with no way of safeguarding it for future generations.

The project will see the museum reach more diverse audiences in a place where 125 years of artillery training have shaped lives, communities and the remarkable landscape ofSalisbury Plain. The new museum will feature galleries, exhibitions and hands-on activities exploring stories of service, bravery, ingenuity and innovation, designed to appeal to visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

With a café and children’s play area, together with a programme of events, educational visits and volunteering opportunities, the museum is expected to become avalued hub for both civilian and military communities in the area.

The purpose-designed storage facilities, conservation workshop, learning spaces, archives, and research centre mean that the collection will be both better preserved for future generations to enjoy and more widely accessible than ever before.

Over the next two years, the Royal Artillery Museum will host community consultation days to gather local people's views as the plans are developed. It will also continue to welcome visitors to its current temporary facilities at Wood Road, Larkhill, on its popular open days. Visit the Royal Artillery Museum website to find out about forthcoming events.

Major General Nick Eeles, Chair of the Royal Artillery Museum, said: “We are delighted to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can now develop our plans to share the remarkable story of the Gunners, and their unique place in our Nation’s history, while ensuring that our extraordinary collection is preserved for future generations.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re proud to support the Royal Artillery Museum as it takes this important next step towards creating a new home at Larkhill. This project will open up one of the
country’s most significant military collections, ensuring these stories are preserved and shared for generations to come. We look forward to working with the team to progress their plans to apply for their full National Lottery grant at a later date.”