Torre Abbey Historic House and Gardens is currently hosting an exhibition to celebrate the Devon and Dorset Rifles Regiment.

Items on display have been loaned from the Dorchester Keep Museum and Winchester Rifles.

The Abbey has illustrious links with the Rifles through the Cary family which owned and occupied the house from 1662 to 1930. Both Lionel Cary and his brother Lucius served in the regiment.

Lionel served from 1855 until 1887 while Lucius died while serving in the regiment during the second Boer War. The exhibition provides an overview of the regiment and also focuses on a number of personal stories.

Torbay’s Elected Mayor, Gordon Oliver, said: “Torre Abbey is steeped in over 800 years of history of which the Cary family played a large part in shaping what this wonderful building has become today. This exhibition is extremely fitting as the Rifles regiment was significant in shaping Lionel and Lucius Cary’s military careers.

“The exhibition tells great stories of our local military history and can be combined with a visit to the stunning award winning Torre Abbey Historic House and Gardens.”

The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, usually just known as the Devon and Dorsets, was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1958 by the amalgamation of two county regiments. In 2007 it was merged into the Rifles to form the largest Infantry regiment within the British Army.

The exhibition is open now until 31 December 2015 with the Abbey closed between 21 and 26 December for Christmas shutdown, visit torre-abbey.org.uk for more information.

To find out more about the Rifles and its history visit www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/

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