Leeds Armoury info.

[Tim Simmons]

As this is general I think this section is okay for my post.

I have been thinking of visiting the Leeds National Armouries Museum. It will involve a two night stay over in Leeds. The train fare is no problem with my subsidy card but the time and accommodation is high. Has anyone been and can you tell me whether there is more than, although no doubt splendid, knights in Armour, Indian, Japanese, English civil war. Wall to wall muskets, pikes , halbards ect. How global is the collection? Is there pan Asian , Naga Bhurmese ect. Africa? Opinions please.

[Lee]

The new Royal Armouries in Leeds has been a source of much controversy among the British arms & armor cognoscente. First the affrontery of moving the collection away from its traditional home in London in William the Conquerer's White Tower on the Thames to a new purpose built structure in a decayed industrial section of Leeds with a panorama of the British version of "rustbelt," then compounded by who was not on the guest list for the opening in the Spring of 1996 by Her Majesty the Queen. Many who might enjoy this museum the most have refused to enter the grounds and I have friends who choose to explain my enthusiasm for the place only by what they regard as an infinitely American capacity for enjoyment of vulgarity and gimmickry. Nevertheless, I cannot help but to thoroughly recommend nothing less than a full day's visit. After all, the objects are there and are generally well light and unobstructed. The sound tracks and video screens are not really that distracting, and some of the programs are quite good. The costumed interpreter - performers are thoroughly professional and if their enthusiasm in sharing the subject with the crowd is not genuine, then they are even better actors than I think. Visitors have the opportunity to handle the demonstration props and I recall even a few genuine antiques being passed through the crowd. The swords start with the Migration period and carry on into this century. There are only a few Viking swords. I recognized only two of the museum's three (including the one on loan from Leeds castle, which is not in Leeds, by the way) Alexandria arsenal swords in the display; the sword with the finger guard (Oakeshott Records XIX.7) not being out as of February, 1998 (it may now be now seen at the Royal Armouries USA at the Frazier). Numerous other medieval swords are also on display; follow the link for a listing). I would avoid the introductory film unless your conscience requires a political correctness calibration prior to entering the exhibit of weapons; it is easy to back-track into the early medieval arms exhibit adjoining the screening room. The Royal Armouries still maintain an exhibit in the White Tower in London; though I am personally unaware of its extent, I have received a description from a fellow reader who has been there. Many of the swords in the Royal Armouries' collection are illustrated in Dufty.

A bit "cheeky" of a review in retrospect, but I repeatedly made the trip from London or York on several occasions when I was in Britain and I never ran out of things to see there. Unfortunately, my last visit was surely over a decade ago. The collection on display then was broadly global.

[Tim Simmons]

Gosh Lee thanks for that. The review is probably right if you do not have an agenda.

[Lee]

The Leeds relocation was fairly recent when I wrote that. I was given to believe by my informants that the political impetus for the move was to 'share' tourist attractors across the country to promote development. There was considerable unhappiness among members of staff not wanting to relocate to Leeds, London area collectors and enthusiasts, and with tourists such as myself who now needed an intercity train ticket rather than a short tube ride to get there. It was, I remember, an interesting walk from the station to the museum. Back then my description of the surrounding vista from the museum was not inaccurate. An initial plus (for 'locals') was adequate cheap parking. But then what appeared to be condominiums began to creep in and consume parking areas and complaints were then heard that it was less and less an inexpensive family outing opportunity. I guess the politicians succeeded in getting the desired redevelopment.

Perhaps, please, someone who has visited more recently will make a reply bringing us up to date with what to expect. Should I make another trip to Britain I would almost surely try to include the Royal Armouries on my itinerary.