The Rifleman's Museum

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The Rifleman's Museum The Rifleman's Museum records the history of The Rifles, The Royal Green Jackets and their predecessors. The Waterloo diorama is a favourite for visitors.

Based in Peninsula Barracks, The Royal Green Jackets Museum is one of six military museums in Winchester. Laid out chronologically over two floors, starting with the Peninsula Wars, the museum’s displays tell of the part played by the regiments in campaigning for peace over two and half centuries, and how the regiments’ approach to soldiering and readiness to adopt new ideas were often ahead of the rest. It features a 25 square metre model of the battlefield with 30,000 model soldiers and horses, plus a 5 minute sound and light commentary, narrated by Kate Adie CBE, describing what happened on 18 June 1815, the day of the battle. The bottom floor of the museum tells the story of the regiment in WW1, WW2 and all the way up to 2007. The museum is a visit for all, with dressing up, interactive displays, videos, audio and object handling. The upstairs is accessible via the staircase and the stair lift. There is also free parking for the museum right outside with a café next door! We look forward to seeing you soon!

23/10/2026

WMM is putting a Spooky Spotlight on the strangest and grossest things in our collections, to celebrate Halloween this year!

Our choice for this week is a force-feeding kit, which was used in Military Detention Barracks throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The wooden mouth gag would be tied around the face, with the rubber tube being inserted into the gap. Part of the tube would be forced down the throat, with a funnel attached to the other end, down which liquified food would be poured.

Hunger strikes are usually associated with the Suffragettes, but they were also undertaken in military detention barracks by Soldiers Under Sentence (SUS). They would be used as either a form of protest, or a way to be moved into a hospital setting.

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1st February 2027 marks the 20th anniversary of the formation of The Ri**es! To celebrate this anniversary, and the upco...
21/10/2026

1st February 2027 marks the 20th anniversary of the formation of The Ri**es! To celebrate this anniversary, and the upcoming opening of our new post-2007 gallery, our brand new R***eman Swift bear is now available for pre-order!

In his No. 2 Dress, he carries forward the traditions of the four forming regiments - The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, The Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry, and The Royal Green Jackets - with features such as his back badge, the Croix de Guerre ribbon on the sleeve, and the 'Swift and Bold' regimental motto.

You can pre-order now for release on 1st December, just in time for Christmas!

https://shop.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pre-order-rifleman-swift-3146-p.asp

The Museum will be CLOSED from today until Monday, 2nd November for building works! Pre-booked events will still be taki...
17/10/2026

The Museum will be CLOSED from today until Monday, 2nd November for building works! Pre-booked events will still be taking place.

We look forward to seeing you when we're open again.

This week's image shows No. 5 platoon, 4RB, at huts in Stavros Gorge, Greece, 1916. The R***e Brigade Chronicle coveri...
16/10/2026

This week's image shows No. 5 platoon, 4RB, at huts in Stavros Gorge, Greece, 1916. The R***e Brigade Chronicle covering the events of that year noted "From 22 January to 1 August there was not much of interest to report", and that "from September till the end of the year, nothing of much note occurred". During the brief window in between, some shelling was reported.

The Chronicle describes that "Work was carried on on the trench-line by night. During the day the Battalion lived in a deep gorge in the hills some two miles in rear of the trenches which were on the flat about 500 yards from the river."

Due to fumes and noise from ongoing work, we've had to close the Museum for the rest of the day. We expect to re-open to...
13/10/2026

Due to fumes and noise from ongoing work, we've had to close the Museum for the rest of the day. We expect to re-open tomorrow, but please check our social media before your visit to avoid disappointment. We apologise for any inconvenience caused!

While our post-2007 gallery is closed for redevelopment, the rest of the Museum remains open this week, Monday-Friday 10...
12/10/2026

While our post-2007 gallery is closed for redevelopment, the rest of the Museum remains open this week, Monday-Friday 10am-4pm (last entry 3.30pm). We apologise if it's a little louder or messier than usual!

Please note that from this Saturday, 17th October, we'll be closed for a week, reopening on Monday 26th October.

UPDATE: The Museum will now be closed from Saturday 17th October - Saturday 31st October, reopening on Monday, 2nd Novem...
09/10/2026

UPDATE: The Museum will now be closed from Saturday 17th October - Saturday 31st October, reopening on Monday, 2nd November, except for any pre-booked group visits or events. Access for these visits and events will be via external stairs. If you're expecting to attend a pre-booked event at the Museum and have concerns about accessibility or any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

We're sorry to be missing half term, but we can't wait for you all to see our brand new gallery once work is complete!

We had a wonderful time this weekend celebrating Heritage Open Days! If you missed out on a visit, you can read up on al...
22/09/2026

We had a wonderful time this weekend celebrating Heritage Open Days! If you missed out on a visit, you can read up on all the fun and see some pictures here: https://riflemansmuseum.co.uk/news/hods26

Address

The Rifleman's Museum, Peninsula Barracks, Romsey Road
Winchester
SO238TS

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

01962 828549

Website

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