Grant for museum's war project

The award comes from the HLF’s First World War: then and now programme and will allow the museum to create a major exhibition focusing on Salisbury’s contribution to the conflict as well as a programme of family and school events.

The three-month exhibition, which opens on October 4, will concentrate on the Home Front from 1914 to 1919 and will include stories about local people, places and events.

It will also tell the story of Salisbury Plain’s pivotal military role in preparing British and Empire troops for war.

The HLF award also supports a partnership project between the museum, Salisbury Cathedral and the Kiwi School at Bulford exploring the Home Front in 1914 and comparing the experiences of military families then and now, and why we remember.

Museum learning and outreach officer Ruth Butler said of the partnership: “This is a key part of our centenary project and we’re delighted to be working with the cathedral learning team, the Kiwi School and storyteller Lizzie Bryant.

“The HLF grant also allows us to offer financial support to eight other schools in the Bulford, Amesbury area to cover some of the costs of transport so they can visit both Salisbury Museum and Cathedral.”

Secondary schools in and around Salisbury will have the opportunity to see a one-man stage show – Our Friends The Enemy – which explores the 1914 Christmas Truce, which will be staged at Salisbury Arts Centre in October.

There will also be a public performance on October 8.

The museum is already working with history coordinators and headteachers from primary schools in the Salisbury area to support the teaching of First World War topics and will be delivering handling sessions in schools and at the museum throughout 2014 and beyond.

Part of the grant will finance First World War-themed family events at the museum and at Bemerton Heath Centre plus a number of walks and talks, including a walk around the Fovant badges.