Zulu War museums/artifact displays in London - need help

Posts : 42 Join date : 2010-11-05 Location : Texas

I could use a little help from members of the forum who might live in the London area. I am joining Ian Knight's tour of the battle fields in November and I am flying from Texas to SA via London with a day and a half stopover each way. I know the National Army Museum is closed for renovation. I plan to find Cetshwayo's house in Kensington (I lived in London for about 8 months and never knew it existed at that time - bummer). Other than the British Museum, can anyone suggest some places of interest I could visit in that short time?

Subject: Zulu War Museums / Artifact Displays In London Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:24 am

Hi Diancast
I too recently spent 4 days in London with the Mrs , which I can tell you curtailed any semblance of a Zulu style trip , and actually forgot about Cetshwayo living in Kensington , I'm sure I could've stumbled across it with her , by accident , on one of the days ! LOL . I'll see you in J'burg as I'm doing the tour as well ! Very Happy

. John Young springs to mind , if he see's this post he may be able to suggest some places worth going to , Cemeteries & Churches with a AZW connection amongst others . One of the Art Galleries may have some of Lady Butler's or other peoples works ? . If it's non Zulu things you wish to see , I think a trip to the Tower of London , Imperial War Museum , Westminster etc etc , Trafalagar Sq , Buckingham Palace , there is LOTS to see .
Cheers 90th Salute

Diancast,

The Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum has a small display including John Chard's & Robert Jones' Victoria Crosses.

King Cetshwayo kaMpande stayed at 18 Melbury Road, Kensington, W8, just off of the junction with Kensington High Street, and there is a blue plaque to record the visit.

Close to London in Chatham, Kent is the Royal Engineers Museum at Brompton Barracks, which contains items relating to Corps' involvement in the campaign. Including material relating to Durnford and Chard.

I think the only Zulu War connection to the British Museum is the fact that Harry Hook worked there.

John Y.

Posts : 206 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi,
I live in London, and Iam happy to show you around, Brompton, and Kensel Green cemeteries to see the Many Graves and Memorials to those who fought in the Zulu War. These would include Lord Chelmsford, the Shervinton Brothers NNC, Farmer VC, Russell of the Times [unmarked], Wyatt Edgell KIA at Ulundi, one of the few whos body was returned to the UK, Reynolds VC Rorke's Drift. These are just a few of the many at these cemeteries.
This is a open invitation to any members.
Rai
Keynshamlighthorse

That's very nice of you Rai Very Happy

90th

Posts : 2872 Join date : 2010-06-02

Here is 18 Melbury Road Kensington. There are two Blue Plaques, one to Cetshwayo and the other to William Holman Hunt the well known Pre Raphaelite painter.
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image posted by 24th on another thread!

PS No 20 sold for £6.75 million in 2014!
Steve

Thanks Steve , what did you do with the money ??????? , you could have a little trip to Isandlwana Lodge and have plenty still left over ! Joker

90th

Posts : 2872 Join date : 2010-06-02

Could buy Isandlwana Lodge for that!

Steve

You sure could , and throw in The Fugitives Drift Lodge , along with a couple of Spears , and Relics with provenance , still some left over ! lol Very Happy

90th

Posts : 2872 Join date : 2010-06-02

The tomb of the Prince Imperial is at Farnborough Abbey, along with Empress Eugenie his mother and Napoleon III his father. About 40 minutes on the train from Waterloo station. But very restricted opening so timing may not work. Some artifacts in Aldershot Military Museum just up the road.
http://www.farnboroughabbey.org
http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000010-Aldershot-Military-Museum.htm

Steve

Posts : 42 Join date : 2010-11-05 Location : Texas

Many thanks to all of you for the info. I really appreciate it. 90th - look forward to meeting up with you. Rai- thank you for your kind offer. I will send you a PM with details of when I will be there and maybe we can link up. John Y., I had forgotten about the Imperial War Museum - thanks. Like I said, I lived there for about 8 months, but that was before I got very involved in things "Zulu", it will be sort of like going home again.