The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum

The museum is housed in a Grade II*-listed building known as the Wardrobe. The Wardrobe was originally built in 1254 and it was rebuilt in the 15th century to store the Bishop of Salisbury’s robes. The museums of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and the Wiltshire Regiment jointly acquired use of the building in 1981 and the new museum (which was briefly branded as Redcoats in the Wardrobe) opened a year later.

What to see at the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum

The museum is home to a large collection of military artefacts and exhibits that tell the story of the two regiments. It includes exhibits about the history of both regiments as well as displays about the various conflicts that they have been involved in including the Peninsular War, the Crimean War, the Boer War, the First and Second World Wars and the conflict in Afghanistan.

While it appeals mostly to people with a strong interest in military history, it is nonetheless interesting to learn the personal story behind the medals.

Visiting the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum

The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum is wedged between Arundells and Mompesson House at the northwestern corner of Salisbury’s cathedral close and it is less than a five-minute walk from both the city centre and the cathedral.

Admission costs £5 and the museum is closed each year from early December to mid-February.

It is a relatively small museum and most visitors spend no longer than an hour here.