The Royal Armouries in Leeds, England, has an impressive display of weapons of all sorts from all over the world from most periods in time. In this post, we'll concentrate on a sampling of the blades and armor in the museum. The next post will have the guns and cannons.
The first thing we saw was a cutout of the famous portrait of Queen Elizabeth I.
We came upon a tower filled with suits of armor, swords, pikes, spears, and myriad other weapons. The tower went up three or four stories, making it quite impressive on its own.
A display that was a little disappointing to us parents but fascinating to the children was this set of arcade games.
On the first floor, we looked down at a mounted knight who himself was looking down on the cafe. Maybe we were on the second floor (or third floor, depending on how you are counting).
We enjoyed the exhibits on Japanese weapons, which shows various suits of armor for both rider and horse from the 18th century, as well as a sample warrior's home.
The exhibit has examples of Japanese firearms and helmets. As I said, there will be a separate post on firearms and cannons, but since this fits in with the other Japanese items, I post the picture here.
Another horse features less defensive gear for riding.
Traditional Japanese swords are on display in a variety of sizes.
On another floor we discovered dueling weapons, including swords and knives that look perfect for swashbuckling.
Nearby we found modern dueling equipment, including the padded armor used by fencers.
The European medieval section has a good variety of items. This German helmet from the 1500s is unusual in its detail with a nose and mustache on the visor. Even more impressive, the nose and mustache are one piece of metal with the visor, not later additions.
Plenty of suits of armor are on display from different ages and different armies.
Suits of armor are fairly nondescript, so knights who wanted to get credit for their feats in battle (or who didn't want to be killed accidentally by their own forces during battle) had shields, helmets, and surcoats with heraldic imagery identifying themselves. Coats-of-arms grew out of this tradition.
Some of the armor is arranged whimsically, which we all appreciated.
In the gift shop, L tried out her dual-wielding feat with some axes.
Another display shows the tools of 18th and 19th century whaling, including harpoons.
The display also has more modern equipment, like this harpoon gun.
The harpoon gun is a good lead in to the next post on guns and cannons at the armory.
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| Entering the Royal Armouries in Leeds |
The first thing we saw was a cutout of the famous portrait of Queen Elizabeth I.
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| L in the cutout |
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| J in the cutout |
We came upon a tower filled with suits of armor, swords, pikes, spears, and myriad other weapons. The tower went up three or four stories, making it quite impressive on its own.
 |
| Tower of weapons (click to enlarge) |
A display that was a little disappointing to us parents but fascinating to the children was this set of arcade games.
 |
| Kids, there's more interesting stuff to see elsewhere! |
On the first floor, we looked down at a mounted knight who himself was looking down on the cafe. Maybe we were on the second floor (or third floor, depending on how you are counting).
 |
| Knight from above |
We enjoyed the exhibits on Japanese weapons, which shows various suits of armor for both rider and horse from the 18th century, as well as a sample warrior's home.
 |
| Japanese mounted warriors |
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| Various swords and spears |
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| 18th century armor modeled on Japanese medieval armor |
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| 18th century armory in the 18th century style |
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| A warrior's home |
The exhibit has examples of Japanese firearms and helmets. As I said, there will be a separate post on firearms and cannons, but since this fits in with the other Japanese items, I post the picture here.
 |
| Japanese rifles and other firearms |
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| 1700s helmets |
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| 1700s armor |
Another horse features less defensive gear for riding.
 |
| A more casual horse |
Traditional Japanese swords are on display in a variety of sizes.
 |
| Japanese swords |
On another floor we discovered dueling weapons, including swords and knives that look perfect for swashbuckling.
 |
| Dueling weapons |
Nearby we found modern dueling equipment, including the padded armor used by fencers.
 |
| Fencer with foil |
The European medieval section has a good variety of items. This German helmet from the 1500s is unusual in its detail with a nose and mustache on the visor. Even more impressive, the nose and mustache are one piece of metal with the visor, not later additions.
 |
| Helmet with mustache |
Plenty of suits of armor are on display from different ages and different armies.
 |
| Various suits of armor |
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| Mobile home for knights |
Suits of armor are fairly nondescript, so knights who wanted to get credit for their feats in battle (or who didn't want to be killed accidentally by their own forces during battle) had shields, helmets, and surcoats with heraldic imagery identifying themselves. Coats-of-arms grew out of this tradition.
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| Heraldic shield of Charles Brandon, First Duke of Suffolk |
Some of the armor is arranged whimsically, which we all appreciated.
 |
| Arguing armor? |
In the gift shop, L tried out her dual-wielding feat with some axes.
 |
| L ready for battle |
Another display shows the tools of 18th and 19th century whaling, including harpoons.
 |
| Whaling equipment |
The display also has more modern equipment, like this harpoon gun.
 |
| J with a modern harpoon |
The harpoon gun is a good lead in to the next post on guns and cannons at the armory.
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