Its remit for the overall history of British land forces contrasts with those of other military museums in the United Kingdom concentrating on the history of individual corps and regiments of the British Army. It also differs from the subject matter of the Imperial War Museum, another national museum in London, which has a wider remit of theme (war experiences of British civilians and military personnel from all three services) but a narrower remit of time (after 1914).
The National Army Museum was first conceived in the late 1950s, and owes its existence to the persistent hard work of Field MarshalSir Gerald Templer, who did most of the fundraising for it.[2] It was established by Royal Charter in 1960, with the intention of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting objects and records relating to the Regular and Auxiliary forces of the British Army and of the Commonwealth, and to encourage research into their history and traditions.[3] It was initially established in 1960 in temporary accommodation at the former No.1 Riding School at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[4]
One director, Ian Robertson, initiated a programme to establish an outpost of the Museum in the garrison town of Catterick, North Yorkshire, to be known as National Army Museum North, on the model of Imperial War Museum's establishment of the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. A large site was chosen near Marne Barracks, beside the A1, and in 2002 Simon Pierce of Austin-Smith:Lord was chosen as the new museum's architect.[6] However, funding and planning issues later led to the cancellation of the plan in 2003.[7] The National Army Museum instead underwent a major redevelopment of its gallery and corridor displays at Chelsea from 2006 onwards, establishing new displays in existing permanent display areas, converting the corridors from oil-painting displays to permanent-exhibition spaces, and producing new temporary and permanent display areas on the third floor. This redisplay concluded with the opening of the new permanent National Service gallery in October 2010, though a further phase of redevelopment followed from 2011 onwards.[8]
Refurbishment
From 1 May 2014 until 30 March 2017, the museum was closed to the public for a major rebuilding programme.[9][10][11]
The refurbishment cost £23.75 million, of which £11.5 million was financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund: the works created five galleries that cover British military history from the English Civil War up to modern day.[12][13][14] The rebuilding was overseen by BDP architects, and specialist museum design company, Event Communications.[15]
Esther Dugdale from Event Communications noted that "The new museum aims to create a dialogue about the army – not to promote it, but bring the discussion of it into the public domain", and "The displays express its multi-layered history and relationship with the public. It does not shy away from some of the more difficult issues, but also gives a voice to the many who have served and what they have experienced".[15] Dugdale also stated that the new design would be an "immersive experience", allowing visitors to ride simulated tanks, load rifles and understand war tactics in a technology-driven 3D environment.[15]
In early March 2017, the Queen reopened the Museum, marking the completion of a three-year renovation.[16] However, in an article in The Spectator, historian and Museum trustee Andrew Roberts severely criticised the new displays, stating: "Instead of seeing artefacts in a historical context, as part of a chronological narrative, the visitor is forced to explore themes, and as ever this has provided an opening for guilt, apology and political correctness"; he also pointed to incorrect statements, and suggested a generalised dumbing-down, writing of medal displays: "we are not told in very many cases what they are or even who they were awarded to."[17] In 2022, in a follow-up article, Roberts announced that under new director Brigadier Justin Maciejewski, (the first leader of the museum to have first-hand experience of soldiering), the museum had "returned to the aims of its Royal Charter, anchored itself to historical facts rather than contemporary politicised fashions," and telling the Army's story from "an evidence-based, objective perspective."[18]
Galleries
The museum has five new galleries: Formation, Soldier, Global, Battle and Society.[19]
Governance
The National Army Museum achieved devolved status as a non-departmental public body in 1983 under terms of the National Heritage Act. The annual Grant-in-Aid from the Ministry of Defence, is administered by the Director of the Museum on behalf of the governing body, the board of trustees of the National Army Museum.[3]
Directors
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Bernard Appleby 1971–1975
^National Army Museum Secures £11.5m Heritage Lottery Fund Grant 2 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, 30 April 2014 (NAM Press Archive)
^Helen Gilbert, New images of BDP's National Army Museum plans revealed, 30 April 2014 (Architects' Journal)
^. Nam.ac.uk. 1 April 2014. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
^Ben Macintyre (30 March 2017). "Attention! Forward march to a light-filled museum of army life". Thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^Ione Bingley. "National Army Museum re-opens after three years". KCW Today. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^"National Army Museum refreshed by BDP | netMAGmedia Ltd". Building-projects.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
^ abcSarah Dawood (15 April 2017). "New National Army Museum will "discuss, not promote" British Army". Design Week. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
^Simpson, Fiona (16 March 2017). . Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
^Andrew Roberts, National Army Museum, The Spectator, 3 June 2017
^Andrew Roberts, The triumph of the National Army Museum, The Spectator, 25 June 2022
^"National Army Museum reopens following three-year £23m development". 30 March 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
Sources
Chandler, D. G. "The National Army Museum." History Today. (Sep 1972), Vol. 22 Issue 9, pp. 664–668; online
National Army Museum Account 2009–2010 ("The Account")(PDF).
External links
Media related to National Army Museum (United Kingdom) at Wikimedia Commons
Official website
January 10, 2023
national, army, museum, zealand, zealand, british, army, central, museum, located, chelsea, district, central, london, adjacent, royal, hospital, chelsea, home, chelsea, pensioners, museum, departmental, public, body, usually, open, public, from, except, decem. For the National Army Museum of New Zealand see National Army Museum New Zealand The National Army Museum is the British Army s central museum It is located in the Chelsea district of central London adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea the home of the Chelsea Pensioners The museum is a non departmental public body It is usually open to the public from 10 00 to 17 30 except on 25 26 December and 1 January Admission is free National Army MuseumThe main entrance of the National Army Museum from Royal Hospital RoadLocation within Greater LondonEstablished1960 collection 1971 building LocationRoyal Hospital RoadLondon SW3United KingdomCoordinates51 29 10 N 0 09 36 W 51 486111 N 0 16 W 51 486111 0 16 Coordinates 51 29 10 N 0 09 36 W 51 486111 N 0 16 W 51 486111 0 16Visitors215 721 2008 up 7 3 1 DirectorJustin MaciejewskiPublic transit accessSloane SquareWebsitenam ac ukIts remit for the overall history of British land forces contrasts with those of other military museums in the United Kingdom concentrating on the history of individual corps and regiments of the British Army It also differs from the subject matter of the Imperial War Museum another national museum in London which has a wider remit of theme war experiences of British civilians and military personnel from all three services but a narrower remit of time after 1914 Contents 1 History 2 Refurbishment 3 Galleries 4 Governance 4 1 Directors 5 Notes and references 6 Sources 7 External linksHistory EditThe National Army Museum was first conceived in the late 1950s and owes its existence to the persistent hard work of Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer who did most of the fundraising for it 2 It was established by Royal Charter in 1960 with the intention of collecting preserving and exhibiting objects and records relating to the Regular and Auxiliary forces of the British Army and of the Commonwealth and to encourage research into their history and traditions 3 It was initially established in 1960 in temporary accommodation at the former No 1 Riding School at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 4 A new purpose built building designed in brutalist style by William Holford amp Partners was started in 1961 on a site which had previously formed part of the old infirmary of the Royal Hospital Chelsea The new building was completed ten years later and opened by the Queen on 11 November 1971 5 One director Ian Robertson initiated a programme to establish an outpost of the Museum in the garrison town of Catterick North Yorkshire to be known as National Army Museum North on the model of Imperial War Museum s establishment of the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester A large site was chosen near Marne Barracks beside the A1 and in 2002 Simon Pierce of Austin Smith Lord was chosen as the new museum s architect 6 However funding and planning issues later led to the cancellation of the plan in 2003 7 The National Army Museum instead underwent a major redevelopment of its gallery and corridor displays at Chelsea from 2006 onwards establishing new displays in existing permanent display areas converting the corridors from oil painting displays to permanent exhibition spaces and producing new temporary and permanent display areas on the third floor This redisplay concluded with the opening of the new permanent National Service gallery in October 2010 though a further phase of redevelopment followed from 2011 onwards 8 Refurbishment EditFrom 1 May 2014 until 30 March 2017 the museum was closed to the public for a major rebuilding programme 9 10 11 The refurbishment cost 23 75 million of which 11 5 million was financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund the works created five galleries that cover British military history from the English Civil War up to modern day 12 13 14 The rebuilding was overseen by BDP architects and specialist museum design company Event Communications 15 Esther Dugdale from Event Communications noted that The new museum aims to create a dialogue about the army not to promote it but bring the discussion of it into the public domain and The displays express its multi layered history and relationship with the public It does not shy away from some of the more difficult issues but also gives a voice to the many who have served and what they have experienced 15 Dugdale also stated that the new design would be an immersive experience allowing visitors to ride simulated tanks load rifles and understand war tactics in a technology driven 3D environment 15 In early March 2017 the Queen reopened the Museum marking the completion of a three year renovation 16 However in an article in The Spectator historian and Museum trustee Andrew Roberts severely criticised the new displays stating Instead of seeing artefacts in a historical context as part of a chronological narrative the visitor is forced to explore themes and as ever this has provided an opening for guilt apology and political correctness he also pointed to incorrect statements and suggested a generalised dumbing down writing of medal displays we are not told in very many cases what they are or even who they were awarded to 17 In 2022 in a follow up article Roberts announced that under new director Brigadier Justin Maciejewski the first leader of the museum to have first hand experience of soldiering the museum had returned to the aims of its Royal Charter anchored itself to historical facts rather than contemporary politicised fashions and telling the Army s story from an evidence based objective perspective 18 Galleries EditThe museum has five new galleries Formation Soldier Global Battle and Society 19 Governance EditThe National Army Museum achieved devolved status as a non departmental public body in 1983 under terms of the National Heritage Act The annual Grant in Aid from the Ministry of Defence is administered by the Director of the Museum on behalf of the governing body the board of trustees of the National Army Museum 3 Directors Edit Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bernard Appleby 1971 1975 John Paris 1975 1982 William Reid 1982 1988 Ian Robertson 1988 2003 Dr Alan Guy 2003 2010 Janice Murray 2010 2017 Justin Maciejewski 2018 Died in postNotes and references Edit Financial Statements PDF National Army Museum Archived from the original PDF on 18 December 2010 Retrieved 12 August 2016 Sir Gerald Templer Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Retrieved 21 August 2012 a b Account p 3 1960 Her Majesty The Queen opening the National Army Museum at Sandhurst formerly No 1 Riding School Retrieved 21 August 2012 National Army Museum Royal Hospital Road Chelsea London Royal Institute of British architects Retrieved 21 August 2012 Designer of military museum is named BBC News 14 November 2002 Retrieved 21 August 2012 Shelved Army museum for the North Northern Echo 31 October 2003 Retrieved 21 August 2012 Account p 20 National Army Museum Secures 11 5m Heritage Lottery Fund Grant Archived 2 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine 30 April 2014 NAM Press Archive Helen Gilbert New images of BDP s National Army Museum plans revealed 30 April 2014 Architects Journal National Army Museum closing Building for the Future National Army Museum London Nam ac uk 1 April 2014 Archived from the original on 17 April 2014 Retrieved 1 May 2014 Ben Macintyre 30 March 2017 Attention Forward march to a light filled museum of army life Thetimes co uk Retrieved 2 June 2017 Ione Bingley National Army Museum re opens after three years KCW Today Retrieved 2 June 2017 National Army Museum refreshed by BDP netMAGmedia Ltd Building projects co uk Retrieved 2 June 2017 a b c Sarah Dawood 15 April 2017 New National Army Museum will discuss not promote British Army Design Week Retrieved 6 October 2019 Simpson Fiona 16 March 2017 Queen reopens National Army Museum in Chelsea Evening Standard Archived from the original on 17 March 2017 Retrieved 17 March 2017 Andrew Roberts National Army Museum The Spectator 3 June 2017 Andrew Roberts The triumph of the National Army Museum The Spectator 25 June 2022 National Army Museum reopens following three year 23m development 30 March 2017 Retrieved 6 June 2017 Sources EditChandler D G The National Army Museum History Today Sep 1972 Vol 22 Issue 9 pp 664 668 online National Army Museum Account 2009 2010 The Account PDF External links Edit Media related to National Army Museum United Kingdom at Wikimedia Commons Official website Review of the museum with photographs of each gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Army Museum amp oldid 1125014671, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
