Welcome to The Keep Military Museum Web Site

The Keep

This is our new look website through which we intend to develop our services to the public, be they visitors to the Museum in Dorchester, visiting our virtual galleries and on-line archives or using our traditional research services. This is a huge task and will be a never ending job, so please visit again to see what is new.

The artefacts, weapons, uniforms, medals and of course the stories of the soldiers and their families and much more are on display over three floors. Computer and digital presentation, realistic battle environments, together with exhibitions, tell the tales of courage humour and sacrifice of the soldiers and their families who have served in the regiments of Devon and Dorset for over 300 years.

We aim to make our history available via the web, which is a key part of our outreach programme. Our virtual galleries provide in depth coverage of topics, documents can be downloaded and we will be developing educational services in support of Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and GCSE.

The Keep Museum' constituent Regiments are The Devonshire Regiment, The Dorset Regiment, The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, The Dorset Yeomanry, The Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry, The Dorset Militia, The Royal Devon Yeomanry and 94 Field Regiment RA.

Spectacular views from the battlements of Hardy's Dorset are an added bonus.

Wheelchair access to all display floors by lift. Disabled toilet facilities are available.

Foreword by
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent,
Our Patron

Announcements

SUMMER OPENING

We commence summer opening on Thursday 1 April 2010 - Thursday 30 September 2010.
The museum will open Monday - Saturday inclusive 9.30am - 5.00pm. Last admission will be at 4pm and the front gates will be closed at 4pm.

Closed Sunday all year round

If you are making a special jounrey on a saturday, please do ring us in advance to check opening arrangements as due to staff shortages, there may be times when he have option but to close on a Saturday. We hope this will not happen and will make every effort to avoid it - but please do check.

RESEARCH CHARGES

From 1 April 2010 we will be obgliged to raise a £5 administrtation fee before we can answer any research related queries. Please read the research pages of our website carefully before sending a query and money to ensure that we will be able to help you. Many enquiries ask for service records and we do NOT hold these.

SPECIAL OFFER: BOOK & DVD JUST £15!

The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment History 1958 - 2007 and the Bloody 11th Official Commemorative DVD have been reduced to clear at a special price of £15 for the two. This includes postage and packing. If you purchase during a visit to the Museum, the price is just £10.

The DVD alone is reduced to £4 by post; £2.50 to personal visitors.

There is no further reduction for buying the book without the DVD.

FREE TICKETS FOR RAFFLES

We have received a lot of requests for complimentary tickets for raffles recently. We are happy to send these out to local organisations, but please remember that we are a charity too and enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request.

Click here for a Virtual Tour of the Museum (Dorchester, Dorset)