Cumbria's Museum of Military Life

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Cumbria's Museum of Military Life Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life tells a 300-year story of courage, loyalty and service. A range of cakes, sandwiches and sausage rolls .

Cumbria‘s Museum of Military Life was founded in 1932 and tells the 300-year story of Cumbria’s army regiments through books, documents, photographs and artefacts. Having recently moved to the newly refurbished Alma Block in Carlisle Castle the Museum is full of new features including audio/visual displays, impressive graphics, interactive activities for young people and environments depicting life in the World Wars. Our small on site Café serves freshly ground coffee, tea, cold drinks and Cream of Galloway ice cream. The Museum also offers research services for families looking to research those who served with The Border Regiment and it's successors. We also accommodate school groups and have a program of outreach services for schools, groups and clubs.

Down to Brass Tacks: From Egypt, with love… ❤️A photograph in front of the pyramids and Sphinx, and a cushion cover emb...
16/10/2026

Down to Brass Tacks: From Egypt, with love… ❤️

A photograph in front of the pyramids and Sphinx, and a cushion cover embroidered with a regimental badge. Two very different objects, connected by one soldier: Arthur Hulme of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment.

📸🪡 One photograph captures Arthur alongside fellow soldiers in Egypt, while another object tells a more personal story: a cushion cover embroidered with the Border Regiment badge, sent to his wife.

Together, these objects offer a glimpse into the life of a soldier beyond the uniform - from experiences overseas to the personal connections that linked him with home.

As our Down to Brass Tacks project continues, our team and volunteers are documenting objects from the collection and working to uncover the stories behind them.

🔎 Every object has a history. We’re just helping bring those histories to light!

✨ Our Down to Brass Tacks Project has been made possible thanks to a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund ✨

heritagefunduk

👀 Caught these two conspiring…What are Jay and Jules plotting now? Well, we can’t reveal all our behind-the-scenes secre...
15/10/2026

👀 Caught these two conspiring…

What are Jay and Jules plotting now?

Well, we can’t reveal all our behind-the-scenes secrets - but our volunteers are always a big part of the conversation! From finding new ways to get involved with the collection to planning future projects, there’s always something happening behind the scenes at CMOML.

Watch this space… 👀😉

📚 SECOND-HAND BOOK SALE coming right up…👀 Looking for a good book to curl up with now that the evenings are drawing in? ...
14/10/2026

📚 SECOND-HAND BOOK SALE coming right up…

👀 Looking for a good book to curl up with now that the evenings are drawing in? Or a new bit of military history for the bookshelf?

Our Second-Hand Book Sale is coming up this half term, with loads of pre loved books to browse - perfect for fans of military history, war and all things historical.

And with books starting from just £1, there are plenty of bargains to be found! 👀📖

Pop in, have a browse and see what you can discover. You never know what might catch your eye!

📍 Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, inside Carlisle Castle
🗓️ Starting Monday, 26th October
📖 Books from just £1

🎙️ Did you catch our Jules on the radio? 🎙️Our very own curator, Jules, joined Mike Zeller on BBC Radio Cumbria last wee...
13/10/2026

🎙️ Did you catch our Jules on the radio? 🎙️

Our very own curator, Jules, joined Mike Zeller on BBC Radio Cumbria last week to discuss why it’s so important to keep telling and retelling the stories of our veterans.

Missed it? You can listen to the whole interview here: 👉🏻 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m003268z?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

mikezellerradio

🍽️ Our next Veterans lunch is just one week away! 🍽️Come along and join us for some fabulous food, even better company -...
12/10/2026

🍽️ Our next Veterans lunch is just one week away! 🍽️

Come along and join us for some fabulous food, even better company - and does anyone fancy a quiz??

Our Veterans lunches are open to all ex service personnel, and we LOVE seeing new faces - so book your ticket by:

💻 Visiting the website at👉🏻: https://www.cumbriasmuseumofmilitarylife.org/product/veterans-lunch-club-october/
☎️ Calling the Museum on 01228 532774
🙋🏻‍♀️ Dropping in to the Museum reception

✨ Let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or accessibility needs ahead of time and we'll do our best to accommodate them ✨


🍪 It’s National Baking Week! 🥖But wartime baking didn’t always mean cakes and biscuits fresh from the oven…‘Biscuit duff...
12/10/2026

🍪 It’s National Baking Week! 🥖

But wartime baking didn’t always mean cakes and biscuits fresh from the oven…

‘Biscuit duff’ was a simple way of making notoriously hard Army ration biscuits a little more palatable - crushing or soaking them and turning them into a filling pudding or adding them to other dishes like stew.

📸 This particular mention comes from the book ‘Fifty-first Field’ by Thomas Thompson, on sale in the Museum.

✨ Six weeks to go ✨ It’s just six weeks until the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment 4th Battalion Reunion at Cumbria’s Mu...
11/10/2026

✨ Six weeks to go ✨

It’s just six weeks until the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment 4th Battalion Reunion at Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life!

🗓️ Saturday 21st November
⏰ Doors open 6.30pm until late
📍 Alma Block, inside Carlisle Castle
🎟️ Free event (donations gratefully received on the night!)
🍻 Licensed bar & bar snacks available

Know someone who served with the 4th Battalion? Tag your KORBR pals and spread the word 👇🏻

We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of old friends, memories and good company ❤️

💚 World Mental Health Day 💚Today is World Mental Health Day - a reminder of the importance of looking after our mental h...
10/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day 💚

Today is World Mental Health Day - a reminder of the importance of looking after our mental health and checking in with ourselves and those around us.

If you’re struggling, remember that support is available and it’s ok to ask for help.

Take care of yourselves, and each other 💚


🎖️ THEY’RE BACK! 🎖️Good things come to those who wait… and our King’s Own Royal Border Regiment lapel badges are back in...
09/10/2026

🎖️ THEY’RE BACK! 🎖️

Good things come to those who wait… and our King’s Own Royal Border Regiment lapel badges are back in stock!

Whether you’re a proud former member, have a family connection to the regiment, or simply want to show your support - these little badges are a lovely way to wear your regimental pride.

✨ Available now from the Museum shop and online here: 👉🏻 https://www.cumbriasmuseumofmilitarylife.org/shop/

Small badge, big history 🦁❤️



Tolley Badges Ltd tolleybadges

🔎 Down to Brass Tacks: A Jambiya daggerAnother intriguing object uncovered as part of our Down to Brass Tacks project…Th...
08/10/2026

🔎 Down to Brass Tacks: A Jambiya dagger

Another intriguing object uncovered as part of our Down to Brass Tacks project…

The Jambiya is a traditional type of dagger associated particularly with the Arabian Peninsula. Recognisable by its distinctive curved blade and often highly decorative hilt and sheath, the Jambiya has a long history and can carry both practical and cultural significance.

👀 But how did this particular example find its way into our collection?

That’s exactly the sort of question our team are asking as they work through the museum’s collections - identifying objects, recording what we know about them and, where possible, uncovering the stories behind them.

Every object has a story. Sometimes, we just have to do a little digging to find it 🔎

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

✨ Our Down to Brass Tacks Project has been made possible thanks to a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund ✨

Address

Alma Block, The Castle
Carlisle
CA38UR

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441228532774

Website

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