The Chelsea Pensioners are a very much-loved community of former British soldiers who are particularly known for their scarlet coats and their famous and historic home at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. However, since the working historic site of Royal Hospital Chelsea opened in 1692, there has never been a chance for the public to see behind the scenes of the Sir John Soane Stable Block – until now. A transformational project has been announced that will revolutionise this historic site, thanks to a £3.2 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The three-year project will bring the remarkable story of the Royal Hospital Chelsea and the Chelsea Pensioners to life. It will restore Sir John Soane’s Grade II* listed Stables, lauded by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as ‘a miracle of abstract design’. It will also create a new, physically and intellectually inclusive Outreach, Heritage and Visitor Centre for the whole site – uniting visitor, volunteering and outreach services for the first time. The Centre will be open daily and includes:
Outreach space for learning, wellbeing activities and new volunteering programmes
A permanent free exhibition, including audio-visuals and unseen artefacts from the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s collection
Opportunities to meet Chelsea Pensioners
New public facilities including a shop, community post office and cafe with courtyard.
Ongoing activities throughout the project will give everyone a chance to learn about the amazing heritage of the Chelsea Pensioners and Royal Hospital Chelsea. These will include:
Sharing the Stories of the Royal Hospital – a programme of intergenerational activities involving Chelsea Pensioners, cadets and serving members of the Army and oral histories.
Activities with local communities in neighbouring areas.
A programme of activity open to the public that will run throughout the restoration works and beyond, including hard hat tours, family fun days and specialist events, led by Chelsea Pensioners.
A heritage, health and wellbeing programme for people living with dementia, carers and non-resident veterans, delivered in partnership.
An outreach programme for the wider Army community.
Heritage skills opportunities including internships, volunteering and work experience.
Today, the Royal Hospital Chelsea is home to some 300 Army veterans, including those who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus and World War II. The site itself is situated on 66 acres in the centre of London and includes a unique architectural legacy – with Grade I and II* listed buildings designed by Charles II and Sir Christopher Wren over 300 years ago.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support the Royal Chelsea Hospital with this fantastic project. The Chelsea Pensioners are already well-loved, but this project will bring their world to life, giving behind the scenes access to this beautiful building, but also will tell stories connected to the Chelsea Pensioners’ heritage and history and linking to the wider community.
“The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder of the UK’s heritage. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will create a lasting and positive impact helping better understand the unique heritage and history of the Chelsea Pensioners.”
Gary Lashko, CEO of Royal Hospital Chelsea said: “We are immensely grateful to the Heritage Fund for this grant, which will enable the Hospital to open up the Stable Block to visitors for the first time. The site has been in urgent need of restoration for some years, and we are now closer to realising its full potential as a hub for visitors; including other military veterans in the community and as a site for sharing our unique, centuries-old history. We hope this project will contribute to the development of the Chelsea Heritage Quarter, which we are developing with our partners at the National Army Museum and Chelsea Physic Garden.”
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the UK’s largest funder of heritage projects, with almost £8.3billion awarded to over 49,000 projects since 1994. They support a wide range of projects including historic buildings and monuments; community and cultural heritage; and landscape and nature.
