The trustees of the Worthy Down-based Adjutant General's Corps Museum have been awarded £235,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund for their new museum in the guardroom of Peninsula Barracks, Winchester.

The 19th century building has recently undergone an extensive MoD-funded refurbishment and is ready for fitting out.

The design is being co-ordinated by Debbie Morley, of the National Army Museum, in Chelsea, who has extensive experience of working on regimental museums in Britain and Ireland.

Work will begin shortly on this totally purpose-designed addition to the story of the military heritage of Winchester.

The theme of the AGC Museum will centre on the historical significance of the antecedents of today's corps: the Royal Army Pay Corps, the Corps of Royal Military Police, the Military Provost Staff Corps, the Royal Army Educational Corps, the Army Legal Corps, the Women's Royal Army Corps, the clerks of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and the regimental clerks from all arms and services of the British Army.

The museum will chart the progress of personnel administration in the Army over the last four centuries, using artefacts, pictures and archives to tell the story.

As well as housing the collection of the Adjutant General's Corps and its antecedents, the guardroom will act as a visitor centre serving the other five museums on the site - the Royal Green Jackets, the Gurkhas, the Light Infantry, the King's Royal Hussars and the Royal Hampshire Regiment, "round the corner" in Serle's House.

The centre will feature information on all the museums and on the heritage of the barracks and its relationship with the city of Winchester since Roman times.

During the planning of the project, culminating in the successful lottery award, Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council have been closely involved and both councils have provided financial assistance.

Regimental colonel of the AGC, Colonel Tony Figg, said: "This is excellent news and we can now realise a dream that has been with us since we formed in 1992".

Museum director, Lt-Col George McMeekin, paid tribute to Colonel Barrie Johnson, now retired, who worked on the project for two years: "Without his commitment and attention to detail, we really would not have got very far; we owe him a considerable debt", he said.

Museum curator Ian Bailey, who has been in post since last October, said: "Now we can really get our teeth into the project with the help of our very good friends from the National Army Museum."

It is hoped to open the museum to the public in the autumn, with a "grand opening" some time later.