Royal Armouries Museum
{{Short description|Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{for|the artillery museum|Fort Nelson, Hampshire}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Royal Armouries Museum
| logo = Royal Armouries logo.svg
| image = RoyalArmouriesMuseumandBridge.jpg
| caption = The Royal Armouries Museum and Knight's Way Bridge
| map_type =
| pushpin_map = United Kingdom Leeds
| former_name =
| established = {{Start date and age|1996|df=yes}}
| location = Leeds Dock, Leeds, {{postcode|LS|10}}
England
| coordinates = {{coord|53.79194444|N|1.53250000|W|}}
| type = National museum
| director = Nat Edwards
| publictransit = {{ubl|{{rail-interchange|leeds}} Leeds railway station|{{rint|bus}} 29 to Chadwick Street (stop A1)|{{rint|bus}} 167 to Black Bull Street (stop A5)|{{rint|ferry}} Leeds Water Taxi}}
| website = [https://royalarmouries.org/venue/royal-armouries-museum/ royalarmouries.org]
}}
The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, is a national museum that holds the National Collection of Arms and Armour. It is part of the Royal Armouries family of museums, with other sites at the Royal Armouries' traditional home in the Tower of London, and the National Collection of Artillery at Fort Nelson, Hampshire. The Royal Armouries is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/society-and-culture/museums-and-galleries|title=Museums and galleries – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk}}
The Royal Armouries Museum is a £42.5 million purpose-built museum located in Leeds Dock that opened in 1996. Its collection was previously on display or in storage at the Tower of London where the Royal Armouries still maintains a presence and displays in the White Tower.{{cite web|title=Royal Armouries Leeds History |url=http://www.royalarmouries.org/collections/history-of-the-collection/museum-history/leeds-history |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301022623/http://www.royalarmouries.org/collections/history-of-the-collection/museum-history/leeds-history |archivedate=1 March 2012 }}
As at all UK National Museums, entry is free, though certain extra attractions are charged for.
Construction
The museum was one of the first projects carried out under the UK private finance initiative: a non-departmental public body, the Royal Armouries, contracted with a private sector company, Royal Armouries International (RAI), which was financed by a long-term bank loan from Bank of Scotland, and grant support from the UK Government, Leeds Development Corporation and Leeds City Council, together with equity investment from 3i, Gardner Merchant, Electra and Yorkshire Electricity.{{cite web|url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr04-05/english/sec/library/0405in06e.pdf |title=Public Private Partnership Cases involving Land Development in the United Kingdom and the United States |pages=1–2|publisher=Legislative Council Secretariat |access-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012130729/https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr04-05/english/sec/library/0405in06e.pdf|archive-date=12 October 2019}} RAI commissioned a new building to accommodate the museum: it was designed by Derek Walker and Buro Happold,{{cite web|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3575/is_1235_207/ai_59601742|title=Structure minimizes resources used|publisher=The Architectural Review |date=1 January 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041230090309/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3575/is_1235_207/ai_59601742|access-date=17 November 2021|archive-date=30 December 2004}} and built by Alfred McAlpine at a cost of £42.5 million{{cite web|url=https://www.nao.org.uk/report/the-department-for-culture-media-and-sport-the-re-negotiation-of-the-pfi-type-deal-for-the-royal-armouries-museum-in-leeds/|title=The Department for Culture, Media and Sport: The Re-negotiation of the PFI-type Deal for the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds – National Audit Office (NAO) Report|website=National Audit Office}} and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in March 1996.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/queen-meets-queen-opening-royal-armouries-leeds-90298 |title=Queen meets queen at opening of Royal Armouries in Leeds|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=9 March 2019|access-date=17 November 2021}}
File:Horned Helmet Royal Armouries Museum leeds.JPG|The Horned Helmet that was the basis for the museum's original logo{{cite web |last1=Argent |first1=Patrick |title=What happened to identity? |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/november-2010-online/what-happened-to-identity/ |website=Design Week |access-date=18 November 2021 |date=8 November 2010}}
File:Former Royal Armories logo.jpg|Former Royal Armouries Museum logo, designed by Minale Tattersfield.
File:Mask at the Royal Armouries museum - geograph.org.uk - 1771125.jpg|Mask sculpture outside the museum
Location
Situated close to Leeds city centre on the South bank of the River Aire the museum is one of the focal points of the regenerated Leeds waterfront. It is located on Armouries Square, in Leeds Dock. Road access is by Armouries Drive and Chadwick Street.{{cite web|url=https://royalarmouries.org/venue/royal-armouries-museum/|title=Royal Armouries Museum|date=19 August 2020}}
Features
= Main building =
The Royal Armouries Museum itself was designed from the inside out. The ceiling heights of the new building were designed to accommodate the longest staff weapons in the collections, displayed vertically, and are 6.5 meters off the ground at their highest point.{{cite web|url=https://royalarmouriesconferenceandevents.org/event-types/exhibitions/|title=Exhibitions|publisher=Royal Armouries Museum|access-date=17 November 2021}}
In addition to the five original galleries which house 5,000 objects in the permanent displays and the Peace Gallery, the museum also includes the Hall of Steel, a giant staircase whose walls are decorated with trophy displays composed of 2,500 objects reminiscent of the historical trophy displays erected by the Tower Armouries from the 17th century.
The main entrance to the museum is accessed from Armouries Square.{{cite web|url=https://www.scribblestone.com/portfolio/armouries-square-royal-armouries/|title=Armouries Square, Royal Armouries|publisher=Scribble Stone| access-date=17 November 2021}}
Clarencedockboulevard.jpg|The Boulevard at Clarence Dock, looking towards the Royal Armouries Museum
Royal Armouries Leeds West Yorkshire.jpg|The north end of the museum featuring the Hall of Steel
== War ==
- Ancient and Medieval warfare
- 17th and 18th centuries
- 19th and 20th centuries
== Peace – farewell to arms? ==
This gallery can be found within the War Gallery and looks at the potential for a future free of arms, looking at disarmament and concepts such as détente. This gallery is in partnership with the Peace Museum in nearby Bradford.{{cite web|title=Royal Armouries, Leeds Peace Gallery|url=http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/leeds-galleries/peace-farewell-to-arms|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=17 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117044229/http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/leeds-galleries/peace-farewell-to-arms|url-status=dead}}
== Africa & Asia ==
A gallery with displays dedicated to:{{cite web|title=Royal Armouries Leeds Oriental Gallery|url=http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/leeds-galleries/oriental|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616013816/http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/leeds-galleries/oriental|archivedate=16 June 2013}}
- South and South-east Asia
- China and Japan
- Central Asia, Islam and India
== Tournament ==
A large gallery on two floors showing a variety of arms and armour from the glory days of jousting.{{cite web|url=https://royalarmouries.org/visit-us/royal-armouries-museum/royal-armouries-museum-galleries/tournament-gallery/|title=Tournament gallery|date=19 February 2018}}
== Self defence ==
This gallery has a number of different displays dedicated to:{{cite web|title=Royal Armouries Leeds, Self Defence Gallery|url=http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/leeds-galleries/self-defence|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121114411/http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/leeds-galleries/self-defence|archivedate=21 November 2008}}
- Arms and armour as art
- The armed civilian
- Make: Believe – an exhibition celebrating the impact of arms and armour in popular culture, and of popular culture's impact on the design and development of arms and armour.
== Tiltyard ==
Running alongside the River Aire for {{convert|150|m|order=flip}}, with seating on the land-ward side, is the Jousting Arena: though the museum no longer has its own horses, two important jousting contests each year are still held with competitors from all over the world.{{cite web|title=Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds Arena |url=http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/leeds-galleries/arena |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615194557/http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds/leeds-galleries/arena |archivedate=15 June 2013 }} Easter is the height of the jousting calendar when the arena hosts a four-day international competition between up to four jousting teams. The four teams compete from Good Friday to Easter Sunday against each other, with the tournament final on Easter Monday.{{cite web|url=https://royalarmouries.org/press/press-archive-2019/royal-armouries-presents-international-jousting-in-the-heart-of-yorkshire/|title=Royal Armouries presents international jousting in the heart of Yorkshire|date=21 January 2019|publisher=Royal Armouries|access-date=17 November 2021}} Summer sees the jousting season close with the last tournament of the year, an individual joust with jousters from all over the world competing for The Queen's Golden Jubilee Trophy.{{cite web|url=https://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art49963 |title=Royal Armouries Leeds Hosts Queen's Jousting Tournament|date= 22 August 2007|publisher=Culture24| access-date=17 November 2021}}
Exhibits
File:Leeds-RA-01.jpg|Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds: Looking up the main stairwell in the Hall of Steel
File:Leeds Armouries 1.JPG|War Gallery in Leeds
Funding cuts
In March 2011, following a 15% reduction in the Royal Armouries's funding,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/leeds/2010/nov/16/royal-armouries-set-for-job-losses-following-funding-cuts-leeds-cutswatch |title=Royal Armouries set for job losses|accessdate= 28 September 2011}} seventeen members of staff "including all of the museum’s expert horse riders, professional actors and stable staff" lost their jobs.{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leeds/leeds_armouries_jousters_given_boot_exclusive_1_3246290 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |title= Leeds Armouries: Jousters given boot|accessdate= 28 September 2011}}
In popular culture
The museum is mentioned in the Kaiser Chiefs song "Team Mate", from the band's debut album, Employment.{{cite web|title=Kaiser Chiefs: Homeward bound|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2005/04/14/music_kaiser_chiefs_interview_20050414_feature.shtml|website=BBC News|quote=Ricky explains the influence of his hometown on their debut album, Employment: "... I even mention the Royal Armouries in one song...|accessdate=31 October 2014}}
The Nightmare Stacks, by Charles Stross, is mainly set in and around Leeds and the novel's title is an allusion to the museum's holdings.{{cite web|url=http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2017/06/crib-sheet-the-nightmare-stack.html|title=Crib Sheet: The Nightmare Stacks – Charlie's Diary|website=www.antipope.org|accessdate=26 March 2018}}
The Gamespot YouTube series "Firearms Expert Reacts" was filmed on the museum grounds and features the Royal Armouries Keeper of Firearms and Artillery, Jonathan Ferguson, analyzing the design and use of firearms in popular video games.{{cite web|title=Experts React – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLpg6WLs8kxGMgYb13XjPgOKbm5O-CDq7R|access-date=29 September 2021|website=www.youtube.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Royal Armouries, Leeds}}
- {{Official website|http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds}}
{{coord|53.791866|-1.532258|display=title|region:GB_scale:2000}}
{{West Yorkshire museums}}
{{Trans Pennine Trail}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds}}
Category:Museums established in 1996
Category:Military and war museums in England
Category:Museums sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport