Introduction

The Queen’s Royal Regiment established a museum at Stoughton Barracks, Guildford, in 1924. The East Surrey Regiment opened their museum at The Barracks in Kingston-upon-Thames in 1928. After the amalgamation in 1959, Regimental Headquarters was established at Kingston Barracks. The contents of both museums were assembled there and later, under the direction of Major F J Reed were moved to the TA Centre in Portsmouth Road, Kingston-upon-Thames when Regimental Headquarters moved there. Here the museum of The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment was established in 1962. The archives, records and exhibits were merged for the first time to provide an important and valuable regimental asset.

Because of further regimental amalgamations and changes the museum was closed in January 1978 and the contents of the museum were put into store. Negotiations commenced in 1978 between The National Trust and the Museum Trustees under the chairmanship of Colonel J W Sewell. The National Trust offered four derelict rooms in the basement of Clandon House, Clandon Park, Guildford. Much work had to be done before the museum was ready to receive visitors but finally, in April 1981, the museum opened at Clandon Park. From then until 1999, the museum continued to provide a first-class research service, sponsored the writing of several books and supplements, organised exhibitions of a regimental interest, both within the museum, and County towns.

The National Trust indicated in 1997 they would require the rooms which housed the museum for National Trust purposes. Accordingly, under the chairmanship of Colonel Peter Durrant and then Colonel McConnell, strenuous efforts were made to find a new home for the museum, but all potential sites proved to be too costly.

Brigadier Bob Acworth then re-opened negotiations with the National Trust which after considerable effort bore fruit with the offer by the Trust of a new lease. The new lease provides a secure home for the museum at Clandon Park until 2011 but on the basis of sharing one of the rooms with the Trust to allow for the expansion of their commercial activities. At this stage Captain Adrian Birtles became Chairman of the Museum Trustees, and it was decided with the financial support of the Regiment to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of the Museum. Fortuitously, the National Trust agreed at the same time to replace the museum’s electrical circuits, lighting and ceilings. To enable all this work to be done, the museum remained closed for the 2001 season.

The refurbished museum re-opened to the public in March 2002 and has completely new showcases, with the displays re-arranged, some modern electronic equipment and a brand new shop and information point as well as improved research facilities. Further improvements have continued during the winter period of 2005-2006.

The formal inauguration of the refurbished museum was performed by the Chairman of The National Trust, Mr. Charles Nunneley, in the presence of Mrs. Sarah Goad, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Surrey, Brigadier Bob Acworth, President of the Regimental Association and numerous civic dignitaries and members of the regimental family. This ceremony emphasised the close working relationship between the museum and the National Trust at Clandon Park and the continuing importance of the historic ties between the regiment and its home county.

CLICK HERE FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT STOLEN MEDALS

Researchers/Research
Please note that the regimental collection of historic documents, books and photograph albums has now been transferred to the Surrey History Centre.

The Surrey History Centre will now be dealing with research enquiries relating to The Queen's Royal, East Surrey and Queen's Royal Surrey Regiments (2nd, 31st and 70th Foot). The Collection remains available for public consultation.

For further infomation please contact:-
Surrey History Centre
130 Goldsworth Road
Woking
Surrey
GU21 6ND
Tel: 01483 518737
Email: shs@surreycc.gov.uk
Website: http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistoryservice

Located in National Trust House, Clandon Park,
West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7RQ

Tel: +44 (0)1483 223419
Fax: +44 (0) 1483 223419
e-mail: info@queensroyalsurreys.org.uk

Registered Charity No 275470
Museum & Galleries Commission No 428

Opening Times
March - end of October 2006
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays
12 - 5 pm

Click on the map for a larger version.

Ample car parking. Physical access for wheelchair users within the museum itself is good.
Disabled toilets facilities.

Museum Shop
Sells Regimental publications, souvenirs, postcards, ties and posters and an attractive selection of regimental tie pins, lapel badges, brooches etc..

A Charitable Trust Dependent on Voluntary Donations
The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum is a charitable trust dependent on voluntary donations. Donations, large or small, will be welcome.
Cheques should be in GBP (£) payable to The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum but, if in doubt, then please contact the curator
by telephone on +44 (0) 1483 223419
or by facsimile on +44 (0) 1483 223419