The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum facts for kids
The Wardrobe, Salisbury
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| Established | 1982 |
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| Location | The Close, Salisbury, England |
| Type | Military Museum |
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum is a cool place to learn about military history. It's located in Salisbury, England. The museum is inside a very old and special building called The Wardrobe. This building is a "Grade II* listed building," which means it's a really important historical building in England.
The Wardrobe Building: A Look Back
The building where the museum is now was first built a very long time ago, in 1254! It was rebuilt in the 1400s. For many years, it was used to keep the special clothes, or "robes," of the Bishop of Salisbury. That's why it got its name, "The Wardrobe."
What's Inside the Museum?
This museum brings together the collections of two important army groups. These were the Royal Berkshire Regiment and the Wiltshire Regiment. Each of these groups used to have their own museum.
In 1981, the people in charge of the museum bought "The Wardrobe" building. They bought it from the leaders of Salisbury Cathedral. A new museum was opened in July 1982. It was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh.
Over the years, the museum's name changed a few times. In 1991, it was called "Redcoats in the Wardrobe." Later, it became the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (Salisbury) Museum. Since 2007, it has been known as the Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum.
Today, the museum has lots of interesting items. These items tell the stories of both the Royal Berkshire Regiment and the Wiltshire Regiment. You can see many artifacts that show what life was like for soldiers.
