In 1959, the South Staffordshire and North Staffordshire Regiments had amalgamated to form the Staffordshire Regiment.

Prior to that date, both Regiments had had their own museums.

The South occupied a handsome Georgian house in St. John’s St., Lichfield, known as Davidson House.

The Museum of the North Staffords had begun life in the old Library building in Beacon Street and at some point had moved to a building in the Barracks.

In the 1960’s, the two Museum collections were brought together in their new home on the site of Whittington Barracks.

The present Museum building dates from the 1960’s and was funded by the MOD who, at that time, had a commitment to creating purpose-built RHQ and museum buildings for all the newly amalgamated regiments.

Our Museum is believe to possibly be the only one ever built.

The Museum has been extended over the intervening years to include new spaces, both inside and outside.

This includes the addition of a library/muniment room, known as the “Butler Room” after one of the Regiment’s great benefactors, Colonel Eric Butler.

In the early 1990’s, the Museum’s now famous World War I replica trench was constructed outside in the grounds.

This proved to be the starting point for our very successful education programme where we focus on the experiences of the World War I and World War II soldier.

The trench complex provides a focal point for a wide range of events and activities, many involving uniformed re-enactors and full-scale battles.

The education programme alone attracts around 5,000 schoolchildren each year and the Museum has doubled its visitor numbers since its refurbishment in 2014, which saw the trench renamed to The Coltman Trench.

In 2007 Regimental Headquarters of the Staffordshire Regiment closed, leaving the Museum as the sole occupant.

A new headquarters building for the newly formed Mercian Regiment was established 500 metres away.

The Museum, which now incorporates items from the Mercian Regiment, sits alongside the new home of military medicine, the Headquarters of the Defence Medical Services (DMS) Whittington, and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

DMS Whittington was formally opened on the site of the old Whittington Barracks by the Duchess of Cornwall in May 2014.