Royal Armouries

The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom’s national collection of arms and armour. It began in the Tower of London in the 15th century as part of the King’s military organisation. Today the main part of the collection remains in the Tower, while other pieces are housed in Leeds and at Fort Nelson near Portsmouth. The Tower site includes historic weapons and armour made for English kings and their armies. It also contains the National Artillery Collection and the National Firearms Collection. A small display once toured the United States from 2004 to 2015. The Tower’s Armoury was the first public museum in Britain. In the 17th century it showed the Line of Kings, a row of wooden figures of English monarchs, and the Spanish Armoury with instruments of torture. The Master of the Armoury supervised workshops and storehouses across southern England. Notable holders of the post included Sir Henry Lee, who served from 1580 to 1611. The office was abolished in 1671 when the Armoury was absorbed into the Ordnance Board. The current Master of the Armouries is Nat Edwards. Visitors to the Tower site see arms and armour arranged in the White Tower. Displays include suits worn by Henry VIII and Charles I, ceremonial armour from Greenwich, and a collection of early firearms. The Line of Kings still stands in its original form. The Spanish Armoury shows historical torture devices. The White Tower’s upper floors hold the National Artillery Collection with large cannons and siege guns. From its windows there are views across the Tower’s grounds and the River Thames.