"Household Cavalry Museum" Topic

Had a bit of time to kill yesterday in London. Left the meeting on the Mall and thought I had not been into the Household Cavalry Museum for a year or two.

Wish I had had a camera. (My phone caused laughter in Dubrovnik, but that is a different story)

The Household Cavalry Museum is small and not cheap, but I thought well worth the visit. They have long carried some very good memorabilia of Waterloo, especially for Blues, but I was most taken by the new addition, the Royal Dragoon (even if not then Guards of course) Corporal Stiles, with the eagle. I really could not fault the detailed work gone into it. (OK, maybe gloves needed).

Worth trying on a full cuirass with a helmet to judge the weight. Make sure the place is empty, you can look a . The gauntlets are impressive. I had forgotten how big heavy cavalry horses are compared with what lives in the stables and field behind my house.

Hey, Deadhead – thanks for the post! Great photos.

deadhead: I am suprised they let you try on the cuirass and helmet. Is that something they would ordinally allow? A great experiance I would think! Thanks for the photos. John Miller

Both times I have been there they have had them out to try on. Full size originals, but really for the kids of course. Front and back and you have to link the brass shoulder straps into the rivets on the front. Two helmets, one for Lifeguards and one for the Blues and Royals. One still carries its original owner's name. Gauntlets also had ID markings inside. Flak jackets for comparison of weight too.

I was struck that front plate was lighter than expected, but then add the backplate and (oddly more than expected) the shoulder straps. By the time you put on the helmet you do begin to think…………..Two pairs of full size jackboots as well, but I resisted those.

There are a few museums with tiny but marvellous exhibitions that would interest us. This is one. If you have £7.00 GBP-50 and happen to have 30 minutes to kill in Whitehall.

It's like Edinburgh. Do not leave without seeing Ewart's eagle, a saddle of RNBDs used at Waterloo etc…….

When NME reopens see Stile's Eagle

Apsley house has extended its collection and reopened.

My point I guess is that there must be many a regt museum in UK with "minor treasures". I have always thought I should try to catalogue them.

Yes, its a cracking little museum, which I only discovered a couple of years ago.
Another Gem is the Grenadier Guards museum just across St James' park- bit bigger and even better imho

Good point. Less hands on but a good Waterloo section. A beam from the gate of Hgmt as I recall. Also "the lock off the gate"…….provenance a bit dodgy, as to which gate, maybe. Cannot imagine North gate(s) (ie two gates hinged either side) could have accomodated a lock.

Thanks for the reminder!

Who knows what the new NAM will be like when it reopens?