A MUSEUM devoted to a Worcestershire regiment has been awarded a lottery grant of more than £240,000 as it prepares to move to a new home.

The Mercian Regiment Museum has been awarded a grant of £243,200 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as the collection moves to a new base. 

Worcester News: MOVING: The Mercian Regiment Museum will move from its current base at the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum to The Commandery thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund MOVING: The Mercian Regiment Museum will move from its current base at the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum to The Commandery thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (Image: James Connell/Newsdesk)

It is a museum housing a collection of over 20,000 objects that tell the story of one of Britain’s oldest infantry regiments, which has fought in all major conflicts from its founding in 1694 until the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014.

The grant will help develop the Worcestershire Soldier at The Commandery in Sidbury in Worcester.

Dr John Paddock, curator of the Mercian Regiment Museum, said: “We are absolutely delighted that we’ve received this support thanks to National Lottery players. The Worcestershire soldier will cast fresh light on the lives, achievements, tragedies, and triumphs of the generations who preceded us and to whom we owe so much. Uniting the Worcestershire Soldier with the Commandery is an inspiring project and it is great to know that we are a step closer to preserving the museum of another generation.”

Robyn Llewellyn, director, England, Midlands and East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:  "By bringing these histories together the project aims to create new opportunities to engage communities with heritage and spark meaningful dialogue."

The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) in partnership with Museums Worcestershire and the Worcestershire Yeomanry Trust has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Worcestershire Soldier at The Commandery, it was announced today (Monday).

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Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to relocate The Worcestershire Soldier Gallery from its current location within the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum to The Commandery, one of the city’s oldest buildings which tells the story of Worcester’s role in the English Civil War, linking together a history of soldiers from the city and county over four centuries.

The lottery funding has been awarded to help the museum and its partners progress their plans to apply for a full delivery grant in summer 2025.

The new exhibition with an emphasis on enhanced storytelling, more opportunities for volunteering and lifelong learning and community engagement, alongside a focus on more inclusion and greater wellbeing will create an improved visitor experience designed to attract more general and school visitors to The Commandery, as well as to the Worcestershire Soldier story.