York Army Museum celebrated a double milestone yesterday, October 24, 2025, marking the 10th anniversary of its reopening and the launch of its major new exhibition, Object Journeys.
The museum, which was transformed from a former Territorial Army Drill Hall with a national lottery grant and reopened in 2015, is still seen as the benchmark for other Regimental Museums to aspire to, thanks to its groundbreaking interpretation and design.
A Decade of Mission Success
Over the past ten years, York Army Museum has seen over 250,000 visitors. It successfully changed its ethos from a museum run by soldiers for soldiers to one that provides both physical and intellectual access to the story of the Nation through the experiences of those that served in the Army.
Key achievements in the last decade include:
- Engaging 30 different schools covering Key Stages 1 to 5 , and collaborating on adult education with colleges and universities.
- Reaching 50,000 children who have experienced the YAM through visits and outreach activities.
- Developing a dedicated SEND programme, supporting young people from across the Region (Sheffield to Middlesborough).
- Championing accessibility through a 3D Tour, specially guided tours, and quiet hours.
- Hosting over 25 Temporary Exhibitions, including the opportunity to host, in collaboration with the BM, Object Journeys.
Launch of Object Journeys Exhibition
The celebratory event yesterday also marked the opening of Object Journeys , an exhibition made possible by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund , and created in collaboration with the British Museum (BM). The exhibition is running until 21 February 2026.
The exhibition investigates the complex and often personal motivations for military collecting , tracing how objects arrive in regimental collections.
The highlights are three beautifully crafted medieval ewers (lidded jugs):
- These vessels made an extraordinary journey from Europe to West Africa , eventually arriving at the royal palace in Kumasi (modern Ghana).
- Objects on loan include two pieces cared for by the British Museum , including the Asante Ewer, the largest surviving bronze jug from medieval England. The third ewer is now in the collection of The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire.
The museum has begun working with Ghanaian communities locally and within the armed forces to give voice to alternative interpretations of the objects’ journeys. The exhibition also features additional objects from Ghana from the collection of The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire, including a sword, a stool, a loom beater, and a horn.
Distinguished Guests
The occasion was attended by a number of distinguished guests, including:
- Deputy Lord Lieutenant Peter Scrope
- The Lord Mayor of York, Martin Rowley
- The Sheriff of York, Paul Doughty
- Lloyd de Beer and Julie Hudson, Curators from the British Museum
- Museum Chairman, Colonel Stephen Padgett OBE
We invite all visitors to explore the stories behind these compelling artefacts.
Object Journeys is on display from 24 October 2025 to 21 February 2026.
📷 Gareth Buddo
