Further Information
Bodmin Attractions
- St Petrocs Church
- Bodmin Gaol
- Shire Hall
- Bodmin Town Museum
- Bodmin & Wenford Railway
- Cornwall's Regimental Museum
Come Rain or Shine
If the weather is not at it's best, or you just want to spot a few more things for your itinerary, then here is an excellent guide to help you.
Introducing Cornwall's Regimental Museum
Home of the former Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Regimental Museum
The barracks at The Keep, Lostwithiel Road (a 10-minute walk from Bodmin town centre) was once home to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and is now a military museum. The barracks were built in 1859 and the former Regimental HQ now houses the museum. It contains a series of highly informative exhibits illustrating the various campaigns undertaken throughout the regiments history. In addition there are well displayed collections of uniforms and medals as well as a comprehensive collection of armaments.
Planning a Trip
The campaign exhibitions are especially interesting as they really bring some little-known historical facts to life. A personal favourite is the tale of Fox's Marines and how they took Gibraltar.
The museum is child and dog friendly and features a number of ‘living history’ days throughout the year – check the Cornwall's Regimental Museum website for details where you will find details and opening times.
Do look-out for combination ticket offers when visiting the museum and the Bodmin and Wenford Railway that is across the road from the Keep and if you are looking for somewhere to stay in Bodmin, then Bedknobs B+B might be just what you are looking for.
The following text is displayed on the wall to the right of The Keep's entrance
POLICY PURSUED BY NAPOLEON III. BRITAIN
FELT HERSELF UNDER THREAT OF INVASION BY
FRANCE. THIS KEEP WAS BUILT IN THAT YEAR.
ON LAND DONATED BY THE TOWN OF BODMIN.
AS A MILITIA STORES. DESIGNED TO HOLD
STOCKS OF WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
REQUIRED FOR THE RAPID MOBILIZATION OF
THE ROYAL CORNWALL MILITIA.
IN 1881, AS A RESULT OF A RADICAL
REORGANISATION OF THE BRITISH INFANTRY.
THE DUKE OF CORNWALL'S LIGHT INFANTRY
WAS FORMED FROM AN AMALGAMATION OF
THE 32ND (CORNWALL) LIGHT INFANTRY AND
THE 46TH (SOUTH DEVONSHIRE) REGIMENT OF
FOOT. THIS NEW REGIMENT CONSISTED OF TWO
REGULAR BATTALIONS. A MILITIA BATTALION,
TWO VOLUNTEER BATTALIONS AND A DEPOT.
THE OLD MILITIA KEEP WAS INCORPORATED
INTO A MUCH LARGER DEPOT BARRACKS BUILT
BEHIND IT. FOR THE NEXT 87 YEARS THIS WAS
THE HOME OF THE D.C.L.I.. AND VIRTUALLY
EVERY OFFICER AND SOLDIER PASSED
THROUGH ITS GATES.
The museum also houses a large number of books, letters and records associated with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and the successor regiments of The Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry and The Light Infantry.
The museum has a dedicated research page for family history enquiries on its website.
Further research information may be found at
