Looking up the main stairwell of the armouries

The museum

The Royal Armouries is the oldest museum in the United Kingdom . There must have been arms and armour at the Tower of London since the time of William the Conqueror (1066 ) and the first recorded weapons are during the reign of King John (1199–1216) and by the reign of Edward III it had become an arsenal to supply the English army and navy. The museum started to take shape during the Tudor period and after the death of Henry VIII in 1547 the contents of other palace armouries including Henry's own equipment came to the Tower. The Tower Armouries received their first recorded visitors in 1489 but these were important visiting dignitaries. After the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 the paying public were admitted and was allowed to see the new displays set up to show the power and splendour of the English monarchs, such as the Spanish Armoury , which contained instruments of torture and punishment; and the Line of Kings, mounted figures representing English monarchs.

The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds , England was opened in 1996 as the new home for the national collection of arms and armour. The museum is split into five galleries: War, Tournament, Self-Defence, Hunting and the Orient. Out side, during the summer months, the museum has demonstrations of jousting, falconry and horsemanship.

External link

     [ Official website ]

{{Trans Pennine Trail}}

<1996 establishments>
<Visitor attractions in Hampshire>
<Visitor attractions in Leeds>
<Buildings and structures in Leeds>
<Portsmouth>
<Museums in England>
<Museums in London>
<Military museums>
<Military museums in England>
<Museums sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport>

{{UK-museum-stub}}