Royal Engineers Museum

Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, Kent, is a military engineering museum with a library and archive. It tells the story of the Corps of Royal Engineers and of British military engineering more broadly, from the English Civil War to the present day.

Where is the Royal Engineers Museum?

The museum stands on Prince Arthur Road in Gillingham, inside Brompton Barracks. This site has been closely tied to the Corps since 1812. The museum occupies the former Ravelin Building, a Grade II listed structure put up in 1905 as a training school for electrical engineers. The museum itself was established in 1987.

What can you see inside?

The galleries follow the work of military engineers through several eras: the English Civil War, the age of Empire, the two World Wars and the modern army. Engineers have always built bridges, fortifications and roads, cleared obstacles and mapped terrain, and the exhibits show how varied that work was.

Notable items include:

• the map used by Wellington at Waterloo,
• weapons from the Zulu War,
• a Harrier Jump Jet,
• an enormous V2 rocket,
• a large section of the Berlin Wall,
• Chinese embroideries presented to General Gordon,
• a collection of 25 Victoria Crosses.

The mix of aircraft, rockets and personal keepsakes makes the museum interesting even if you know little about military history.

Is there a library and archive?

Yes. The library was founded in 1813 and holds military histories, photographs from the 1860s (including views of Canada) and First World War unit war diaries. Researchers and history enthusiasts can use it to follow the Corps' activities around the world. Third-party listings give very large figures for photographs, documents and maps, but treat those numbers as approximate.

Who is it for?

• Families and school groups interested in engineering, vehicles and aircraft.
• Military history fans looking for rare objects and documents.
• Visitors exploring Medway and north Kent who want a museum with a clear theme.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the museum? In Gillingham, Kent, on Prince Arthur Road, at Brompton Barracks.

Which building houses it? The Grade II listed Ravelin Building, dating from 1905.

What is the most striking exhibit? Many visitors single out the Harrier Jump Jet, the V2 rocket and the piece of the Berlin Wall.

How much does a ticket cost and when is it open? Opening hours and prices differ between sources and can change, so check the museum's official website before you travel.

Does the museum have a library? Yes, a library and archive founded in 1813 is part of the institution.