A MUSEUM which remembers one of the region’s most famous Army regiments is asking the public to get behind an ambitious £1m refurbishment plan.

The Green Howards Museum, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, which houses artefacts important to the region’s military history, is holding a series of public consultations in October as part of its bid for Heritage Lottery funding.

The museum is asking the lottery for £600,000 and will need to raise £358,000 to match fund the bid.

Staff want to find out what visitors would like to see in the museum, which tells the story of the regiment from its very beginnings to the present day, spanning three centuries of history in times of peace and conflict.

If the museum’s application for funding is successful, there are plans to make substantial improvements to the site including new display facilities, toilets and a lift, providing an informative, modern museum for locals, tourists and the military.

The museum boasts a diverse and unusual display of almost 4,000 medals, including Victoria Crosses and George Crosses, and houses artefacts dating from Georgian times, along with a huge number of photographs.

Lynda Powell, director and curator of the Green Howards Museum, said: “It’s important that we speak to as many local people as possible to find out what they like about the museum and what they would like to see in the renovated site.

“We also want to speak to people who haven’t visited the museum before, to find out why and to discuss what we can do to inspire them to visit in the future.”

“When we re-display the collection, it needs to be 100 per cent how people want it. What we have here is fantastic and unique, but we’re always striving to improve what’s on offer so these consultations will help shape the future of the museum.”

Staff and volunteers will be available to chat with the public, carry out questionnaires and show off some of the museum’s ‘handling collection’, including pieces of uniform, hats and other Green Howard artefacts.

There will be a travelling showcase, displaying a selection of objects likely to be seen in the new-look museum.

Staff will also be recruiting people for the interpretation team, which will be key as developments move forward for museum management to test ideas on and gain important feedback.

The consultation events will take place between 10am and 3pm on Saturday, October 15, in Richmond Market Square; Sunday, October 16, outside Tesco, Catterick Garrison; and Wednesday, October 26, at The Station, Richmond.

Consultations will also take place throughout half-term, from Saturday, October 22, to Sunday, October 30, in the museum itself.