Close-up medal session

We’re offering a rare chance to get a close-up view of key pieces in our medal collection.

The ‘open case afternoon’ is being held on Monday 11 June at the museum; allowing unparalleled access to key pieces, and an insight into the way they are looked after and displayed.

“The Medal Room is an area of the museum which our visitors regularly say makes a huge impact on them,” says Assistant Curator, Steve Erskine. “With more than 4000 medals on display, it certainly has the wow factor, so we wanted to give people the chance to look more closely at these precious items, understand something about the people who earned them, and discover the history of some of the more unusual medals on display.”

Amongst the collection, which includes medals from the late 17th century and the very earliest Victoria Crosses from the Crimean War, is a rare Order of the Sacred Treasure, a 1903/4 Tibet Medal, and Company Sergeant Major Atkinson’s Distinguished Conduct Medal and Bar.

We are currently considering ways to further develop and improve the way we present our medals, with museum fundraising throughout the year contributing to those plans.

Places at the open case afternoon, which runs between 2pm and 4pm, are limited to just 15 to ensure attendees benefit from exclusive access to the medals. Tickets cost £20 and must be booked in advance.

The final open case afternoon, looking closely at regimental badges and buttons, will take place on Monday 10 September.