The Keep Military Museum
Brief History of the Keep, Dorchester
The Keep itself was built in the style of a Norman Castle but was actually completed in 1879 ready to serve as the gatehouse for the Depot Barracks of the new Dorsetshire Regiment. The Regiment was formed in 1881 by amalgamating the 39th and the 54th Regiments of Foot as part of the Cardwell Army Reforms. The Keep was also the County Armoury. It was built of Portland stone and this gives it a white appearance, even today.
Pevsner, in "The Buildings of England" (Penguin 1972) describes it thus:
"The monumental gatehouse is a knock-down affair. Two round towers to the front, the archway between. Three storeys of long slit windows. Rock faced with a vengeance. Today it is a grade 2 listed building. The designer was probably Major AC Seddon R.E head of the War Office Design branch at this time...The barracks behind were humble by comparison"
Originally a road leading to the barracks parade ground ran through the middle of the Keep; this has now been glassed in and houses some of the museum's larger exhibits. By the front window of the atrium is the Marabout Gun (right), one of two such guns captured by the 54th of Foot in their attack on the Marabout Fort, Eygpt in 1801. The gun here is a 6 pounder. It was drawn at the head of the Regiment for all ceremonial parades up until 1841 when it was sent to the depot. Queen Victoria allowed the 54th to add 'Marabout', to their colours and to display the Sphinx and the word 'Marabout' on their badges and regalia.
The Keep is the only building from the old Depot Barracks complex still in MoD hands. Some of the other original buildings remain but are owned by the Council or the Royal Mail. At the far end of the old parade ground is the 'Little Keep', once the Officer's quarters of the Militia Barracks which stood on this site before the Depot Barracks were built. Directly to the east of the Keep, on the other side of the Poundbury Road, are the surviving buildings from the old Cavalry (Royal Artillery) Barracks. They are now used by the C Company 1st Rifles Territorial Army.
For a full history of the Barracks area, please visit the Keep Military Museum website.