THE names of 400 conscientious objectors that passed through Richmond Castle during the First World War will be revealed for the first time by English Heritage.

The 400 names are included in the new museum at the castle which opens next week.

Searching through more than 10,000 digitised military records and existing databases, researchers at English Heritage have compiled the most comprehensive list of Richmond conscientious objectors (COs) in existence. After months of research, the list of the 400 COs highlights the hundreds of men who objected to war on moral grounds and were imprisoned or barracked within the castle during 1916 to 1917.

A Non-Combatant Corps uniform, possibly the only accurate representation of the uniform worn on display in the country, joins a number of items exhibited for the first time in the new museum, including a rare 1916 white feather letter, sent to chastise COs for refusing a combat role, a uniquely ugly ceramic propaganda sculpture of a conscientious objector bearing the word ‘conchie’ – a derogatory term for COs at the time – as well as an original conscription poster, postcards and photographs.

Richard Mason, English Heritage’s curator, said: "During the First World War, hundreds of men who objected to conscription were sent to Richmond Castle and lived, worked or were even imprisoned within these walls. But until now, there has been no comprehensive record of who they were, where they came from or what made them choose this difficult path."

"Poring over the thousands of military records to identify these names has taken a great deal of detective work, and being able to breathe life once again into these men’s stories has been a humbling experience. But we may still never know all of the names of those who passed through the castle, and urge anyone who may have more information to come forward. These men played an important role in the future development of human rights and deserve recognition."

"I’d like to thank one of our volunteers at Richmond Castle in particular, Dawn Price, whose tireless research has been invaluable in producing this list.”

The 400 names will be on display within the new museum which reopens next week. The museum tells the story of Richmond Castle through the ages.