Description of the attraction
Royal Armory - British National Museum of Weapons and Armor. It is the oldest museum in the United Kingdom and one of the oldest museums in the world. Here is one of the richest collections of weapons and armor in the world. The museum includes three main collections: edged weapons and armor, artillery and firearms. The museum branches are located in different cities: the Armory in Leeds, the Fort Nelson artillery museum in Portsmouth and the branch in the Tower of London, where the Armory was originally located. A small part of the collection is on display in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
The Armory has existed in the Tower, probably from the moment of its foundation. A collection of weapons was kept here, armor for the English kings was made here, and it looked more like a treasury than a museum - only occasionally honorary foreign guests were allowed here.
In the 17th century, King Charles II opens the museum to the public. In the 19th century, the exposition, its organization and purpose underwent cardinal changes. Instead of a chaotic collection of all sorts of rarities and wonders, displayed for the amusement of the public, the museum organizes logically organized, historically accurate expositions presenting the development of the arms business in a historical perspective. The museum's funds are growing, and there is not enough space in the Tower to accommodate exhibits. In 1988, the artillery collection moves to Fort Nelson in Portsmouth. In 1990, the main collection of the Armory moved to Leeds, and only those exhibits that are directly related to the history of this fortress remain in the Tower.
There are five galleries in Leeds: Military, Tournament, East, Hunting, Self Defense Gallery and the impressive Steel Hall. Here are samples of weapons from all eras and countries.
The Royal Armory is positioning itself not just as a weapons museum. "If you think the Armory is just knives, pistols and armor behind glass, think again." The museum considers organizational and educational work to be one of its main goals. “Our goal is to make Britain safer,” reads the museum's website. The Armory works closely with the police to reduce the number of guns on the streets, make life safer and educate people to resolve conflicts peacefully.
