Cornwall's Army Museum

About the museum

Cornwall’s Army Museum, also known as Bodmin Keep, is the regimental museum for the army in Cornwall. It was founded in 1925 and is now housed in the Keep of the former Victoria Barracks in Bodmin, which was completed in 1859 as a depot for county regiments.

The collection of about 12,000 objects covers more than 300 years of military history. It includes regimental colours, uniforms, badges, weapons, instruments and medals, and it holds the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and National Light Infantry Collection. Items range from the Battle of Waterloo to the Cold War, and the displays include a piece of the Berlin Wall and material on the role of the 32nd Regiment of Foot in the Siege of Lucknow in 1857.

The museum is run by a registered charity. The building was closed to visitors in 2024 after serious structural problems were found, and it remains closed for urgent preservation work with no reopening date announced. In the meantime the charity delivers its school programme in classrooms and keeps its office and research service running.

Highlights

• About 12,000 objects covering more than 300 years of military history
• Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and National Light Infantry Collection
• Piece of the Berlin Wall
• Material on the Siege of Lucknow in 1857
• Portrait of Sir John Moore, founder of light infantry training

Founded

1925

Operated by

Cornwall’s Regimental Museum (registered charity 1174375)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on two floors reached by two flights of stairs and has no wheelchair access. The archive, library and large meeting room are fully accessible. Every gallery has seating. A sensory map and an Easy Read pre-visit guide can be downloaded from the website, and free sensory bags with fidget toys, ear defenders and binoculars are offered to visitors. Dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

A weekly Museum Club is listed in the programme. Free sensory bags are given to all visitors when the museum is open.

Getting there & parking

The museum is signposted from the town centre and is about a 10-minute walk along St Nicholas Street from the main square.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Meeting and event space is available for hire.

Plan your visit