The Royal Armouries Museum (Leeds)
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The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, northern England, was opened in 1996 to display items belonging to the Royal Armouries collection. The collection is an overflow of that held for many years in the Tower of London.
Like all UK National Museums, entry is free, though certain attractions in any given UK National Museum may still be charged for as an extra to the main exhibits.
The Museum incorporates the traditional glass cabinets with live presentations throughout the day. The interpretations vary throughout the year and a list of the daily interpretations can be obtained on entry.
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[edit] Construction
The museum is housed in a new building designed by Derek Walker and Buro Happold[1] and built by Alfred McAlpine[2].
[edit] Location
Situated close to the city centre on the bank of the River Aire the museum is among many buildings built in the same era that saw a rejuvenation of the Leeds waterfront.
[edit] Features
[edit] Main building
The museum is divided into six galleries in the main building:
[edit] War
With displays dedicated to:
- Ancient and Medieval warfare
- 17th and 18th Centuries
- 19th and 20th Centuries
[edit] Peace - farewell to arms?
A new feature in partnership with the Peace Museum in nearby Bradford.
[edit] Hunting
With displays dedicated to:
- Hunting through the ages
- Hunting as sport
[edit] Oriental
With displays dedicated to:
- South and South-east Asia
- China and Japan
- Central Asia, Islam and India
[edit] Tournament
There are two large galleries showing a variety of arms and armour from the days of jousting.
[edit] Self defence
With displays dedicated to:
- Arms and armour as art
- The armed civilian
[edit] External/courtyard
Outside there is a courtyard featuring:
[edit] Craft court
A number of workshops where the trades and skills of armourers, armoursmiths and leatherworkers can be seen.
[edit] Tiltyard
Undoubtedly the most popular attraction of the Museum. There is an entrance fee for some performances in the Tiltyard.
There are twice daily displays of Falconry involving several different birds of prey. The Falconer always introduces the birds he is displaying by name on the day. The history of Falconry is explained as are the natural habitat and habits of the bird. Some audience participation is encouraged, especially when the Falconer asks the audience to put away any food in case the large birds are hungry.
There are also daily displays of horsemanship through the years. Different displays are seasonal and include the art of hunting by horseback in the Tudor Times and Medieval Jousting.
Easter is the height of the Jousting calendar when the Tiltyard hosts a four day international competition between four jousting teams, one being the home team drawn from the cast of Interpreters. The four teams compete from Good Friday to Easter Sunday against each other with the tournament final on Easter Monday. The winning combatant is awarded the Sword of Honour at the end of the competition.
[edit] Menagerie
The horses and birds of the museum are available to be seen in the menagerie but not handled. The handlers are sometimes on hand to speak about the daily care of the animals.
[edit] Flags
The flags flown by the canal at the Royal Armouries are the:[3]
- flag of England
- flag of Scotland
- flag of Wales
- Royal Standard of England
- Royal Standard of Scotland
- flag of Saint David
- Union Jack
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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