We went to breakfast earlier than usual so that we could catch a train to London. When we arrived at Windsor and Eton Riverside station, we had to wait several minutes whilst the ticket office assistant was on the telephone. When she had finished her call she informed that there was a reduced service during the summer months and this was advertised on the platform. At this stage we hadn’t got as far as the platform! We were further told us that the next train wouldn’t be for 45 minutes. We decided not to wait and walked to Windsor’s other station, Windsor and Eton Central, where there would be more options. We purchased our tickets which included the London Underground and as soon as we got onto on the platform a train arrived.

We arrived in London next to Tower Hill and the Tower of London without any delays. I purchased a Historic Royal Palaces season ticket for Mr C’s birthday present. We planned to visit Hampton Palace later during our stay so this option provided good value for money. Scaffolding was surrounding the main entrance to the Tower of London so visitors were directed to a temporary entrance.

Once inside the Tower, we walked round the outside of the White Tower to see the ceramic poppy display that had, once again, been installed at the Tower. On this occasion the poppies on display mark 80 years since VE day and the end of the Second World War.

At one stage the Tower’s resident squirrel scuttled through the poppies right to my feet probably expecting a tasty snack. He left disappointed, he needs to see the Yeoman Warders for those. Speaking of Yeoman Warders, we made our way from the poppies to the meeting point for a Yeoman Warder talk. Our guide tuned out to be John, the Yeoman Gaoler.  The talk was excellent, bringing the Tower and its history to life. One part of the tour wasn’t possible, The Church of St Peter ad Vincula, which was cordoned off for restoration and repairs.

Next we had some lunch in the busy café where we were lucky enough to find a seat. We left the café to find that there was no longer a queue to visit the Crown Jewels so we took the opportunity to see them next as they are always worth a visit. When we had finished in the Jewel House we found that there was no queue to enter the White Tower which is home to the Royal Armouries so we went in.

It was an unexpected bonus be able to do both, we had thought the queues to get in would be too long and we would only have time to visit one of them. As we were leaving the White Tower, I purchased a couple of books about the Tower of London and a book about the Crown Jewels. It was now time to catch the train back to Windsor. The trains ran smoothly and we arrived back in Windsor at 6pm. We were able to book a table in the Giggling Squid for later in the evening after we had freshened up after our days adventure. The food and service were excellent and we got chatting to a couple of ladies on a nearby table. We returning to the George Inn for a nightcap before turning in for the night.

The Hall of Steel is the architectural centerpiece of the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. This elegant steel and glass tower is unusual in that the double-glazed glass panels are fixed to an external stainless steel frame.

The displays on the stairwell consist mainly of 17th-century armour and 19th-century military equipment. There are over 2,500 items and they represent the largest mass display of arms and armour assembled since the 19th century.

The fashion for displaying arms and armour in geometrical patterns dates back to the late 17th century, when decorative displays were installed at the Tower of London, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court. The Hall of Steel display is based on those designs. *

* Information from the Royal Armouries Souvenir guide book

Elephants played a role in warfare from the first millennium BC until the 19th century. They were used mainly in India and Southeast Asia but also occasionally in western Asia, north Africa, Spain and Italy.

During battles trained war elephants were able to trample men and horses or pick them up and throw them. They also performed an important function as intimidating vantage platforms from which rulers and high-ranking officials could direct their forces.

Elephants were prominent targets on the battlefield and their protections was important. From at least the 11th century AD until well into the Mughal period, sources from across the Indian subcontinent describe or illustrate war elephants equipped with different types of bargustavan-i-pil (elephant armour).

The reputation of war elephants was so fearsome that their true military value is difficult to assess. *

This example of elephant armour  (bargustavan-i-pil) is from India and probably dated late 16th – 17th century.

This is the only known surviving example of a near-complete mail and plate elephant armour in any public collection in the world. It was probably made in an Indian arsenal in the late 16th or 17th century, but it is difficult to be certain exactly where or for whom.

The mail and plate structure for body armour was used mostly in northern and central India during this time, and is often associated more with the equipment of Muslim states. Yet this armour is decorated with peacocks, lotus blooms and fish, perhaps suggesting it was produced in an area which retained elements of Hindu culture.

The armour would originally have been formed of eight panels, three at either side of the body and one each for the head and the throat. Two of the main sections from the right side of the elephant are missing. *

The armour also has a pair of tusk swords that attached to the sawn-off tusks of the elephant.

When wielded by a charging elephant, these tusk swords would have been fearsome weapons. They are extremely robust with massive reinforced points and rings which presumably allowed the sockets to be strapped firmly over the shortened tusks.

Accounts from the 15th and 16th centuries mention South Asian war elephants wearing tusk swords whilst ravaging enemies on the battlefield or battering fort defences. However, contemporary references to tusk swords become less frequent from the time of the Mughal era. This implies that they dropped out of frequent practical use. Surviving tusk swords are extremely rare.*

*from information boards next to the exhibit

This scene shows a wounded tiger turning and attacking his pursuers. The incident is described in ‘Sport in Many Lands’, a book written by H. A. L (Henry Astbury Leveson) ‘The Old Shekarry’, one of the most famous game hunters of Victorian times.

Levison served in the Indian army from 1845 to 1854 and returned on hunting trips between 1856  and 1860. The events described here probably took place during his army service.*

*information from a sign board next to the display

We had a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed, after which we were treated to an excellent breakfast; fruit juices, cereals, fruit and jams from the buffet and a choice of items from the full cooked breakfast menu that were all cooked to order.

The morning was crisp and misty. Our car needed demisting before we could set off on our journey for the day. The demisting caused a spectacular display of steam to rise from the car, an unusual sight. Whilst the car was being sorted out, I took the opportunity to take a few photos in the early morning sunshine.

We set off towards Leeds and the Royal Armouries. As we approached Leeds we could see a layer of mist above which was a brown foggy mug of pollution. I am so glad that I don’t live in a city!

The Royal Armouries has many interesting exhibits. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Mughal elephant armour dating around 1600. I found the armour fascinating. Another display, showing how guns and knives are used in street crime in the UK along with personal stories, left me feeling disturbed.

When we had finished our tour of the Royal Armouries we set of toward Halifax, intending to visit the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment Museum. The traffic was so bad we realised that once again we would be too late to visit the museum so we flexed the plan. We headed into Halifax to see the architecture of the Peace Hall. We walked around the Peace Hall and the nearby streets, stopping for an afternoon refreshment along the way and headed back to Shibden Mill Inn.

Whilst I was considering an indulgent soak in the bath, the fire alarm went off. Mr C and I exited through the nearest door (leading onto the room’s patio area). Mr C quipped, it is fortunate that you were not in the bath. Everywhere else seemed calm and the fire alarm stopped sounding so we returned to our room. Mr C went to collect some milk for a cup of tea and found out that the fire alarm had gone off when to a fire being lit in the grate caused more smoke than expected!

After the false alarm I had a nice relaxing bath before it was time for us to enjoy an aperitif in the bar. We enjoyed the Valentine’s Day special menu in the room above the bar. It goes without saying that we sampled an after dinner drink before retiring for the night.

From The Royal Armouries website:

A tradition of displaying British military strength by creating trophies from masses of weapons has long existed at the Tower. From about 1700 visitors to the Grand Storehouse were stopped in their tracks by John Harris’s stunning displays and models, including a serpent and a seven-headed hydra, which he created from a variety of weapons including muskets, pistols and swords.

A sight ‘no one ever beheld without Astonishment…
not to be matched perhaps in the world’.
William Maitland, 18th century antiquarian

Royal Armouries Head of Creative Programmes, Karen Whitting dreamed up the idea for the mighty beast, inspired by the small figures of a dragon and a hydra in the scale model of the Grand Storehouse. Working with the creative team at Haley Sharpe Design a concept drawing was produced which York-based Paragon Creative have brought wonderfully to life.

Building on the tradition of trophies of arms and armour created at the Tower of London from the late 17th century, this new dragon has been constructed using objects and materials that represent ten institutions which were housed in the Tower.

Institutions

Ordnance Office – armour, swords, firearms and cannon to create the head, back and body, including 22 antique pistols, four swords, four rifles, two bronze cannon and 20 bayonets.

Menagerie – a cage for the ribcage

Prison – 30m of chain to create the tail

The Royal Mint – 2,000 gold and silver coins, representing the dragon’s fire plus 50 replica trial plates

Royal Observatory – 26 telescopes

Ordnance Survey – maps for wings

Record Office – scrolls for legs

Jewel House – 400 glass rubies

Constables – keys hanging around the neck

Royal Armouries – 8 breastplates, 6 muskets, 15 pollaxes, 10 mail shirts, 4 shields and bucklers

Our dragon is fittingly named Keeper, following a naming competition run in association with TV channel History™.

No of items used in total

Over 2,672 items including:

• 8 breastplates
• 6 muskets
• 22 antique pistols
• 40 shields and bucklers
• 4 swords
• 4 pairs of pauldrons
• 4 pairs of gauntlets
• 4 bronze mortars
• 8 kettle helmets
• 4 Enfield rifles
• 2 bronze canons
• 20 bayonets
• 15 pollaxes
• 10 mail vests
• 4 horse shaffrons
• 26 telescopes
• 2,000 gold and silver coins
• 30m of chain
• 400 ‘rubies’
• 1 replica Henry VIII necklace
• 50 replica trial plates

1 set of keys