Superheroes Trail 2025
Station One: Hall of Steel
Imagine trying to dust the 2500 objects in our Hall of Steel.
We would have loved to have Spiderman on the team – as long as he didn’t leave any cobwebs behind.
The Hall of Steel displays:
- 1400 Bayonets
- 448 Staff weapons (like spears or pikes)
- 291 Armour pieces
- 176 Rifles
- 119 Pistols
- 102 Swords
- 10 Armours
- 21 Cannon
- 4 Muskets
- 4 Axes
It has been cleaned several times, including in 2006, when all the objects were taken down, treated, audited and then replaced. In 2024 we used a platform to work on the objects in situ.
We worked at heights of around 26 metres.
It took 10 days for our team of conservators, display technicians, registrars and documentation experts to clean, audit and check the condition of the objects.
Station Two: Henry VIII Armour
This very rare armour covers every bit of the person wearing it.
Do you think Tony Stark might have looked at this before he built his Iron Man suit?
Similarity
Iron Man has had several different armours made using cutting-edge technology, each optimised or modified to specific situations.
Henry VIII also had several armours – we have two on display in Leeds and several more at the Tower of London. Like Iron Man, King Henry VIII had different armours made for different purposes and they used the most advanced techniques of the time.
The all-enclosing armour was created to defend the king against strikes from a poleaxe, a formidable weapon with a multifaceted head including spikes and a hammer.
The tonlet armour had a special skirt of metal to protect the lower half of the body. It would be worn for competitive bouts of fighting on foot using weapons such as spears and long swords known as two-handed swords.
Difference
It wouldn’t be a super villain wielding the poleaxe, two handed sword or spears against Henry, but another king or specially chosen opponent. The ‘fight’ would be carefully controlled to ensure neither the king, nor his opponent had any real risk of being hurt.
Sadly, none of Henry VIII armours can fly.
Station Three: Shield
Captain America’s shield has a star at the centre.
The centre of a shield is called a ‘boss’.
Can you find a shield with 6 bosses?
Similarity:
Captain America’s shield is circular and matches his suit.
We believe this circular shield has a matching armour, held at the Bargello National Museum in Florence, Italy.
Circular shields would be used in Spain by Rodelero’s (shield bearers) to rush into and break up blocks of pikemen.
Difference:
The spike at the centre of the shield was designed to catch an enemy blade. The circular boss at the centre could be used to deflect blows away from the centre of the shield, or to mount the grip. The extra circular bosses on this shield are mainly ornamental.
Captain America’s shield is smooth and made from a fictional material – vibranium – which allows it to absorb and release huge amounts of energy.
Station Four: Jian
Wonder Woman’s sword is magic.
Find a jian (sword) with ornate decoration down the centre.
If you could design a sword what would you put on it?
Similarity:
Wonder Woman’s sword has a highly decorated handle and some versions appear to have a pair of dragon heads biting onto the blade.
Our Chinese Jian (sword) is also highly decorated. Ours has a dragon, flames, a monster mask, human hands and Buddhist Emblems including the treasure jar, the pair of fish, the endless knot and the lotus.
Difference:
Our sword has emblems of good fortune according to the Buddhist Faith. We believe it was made for presentation as a gift, perhaps to a monastery, a ruler or to the Chinese Emperor.
Wonder Woman’s sword was not created as a presentation item but as a weapon – but she mainly injuries supervillains with the sword, so perhaps it is also a force for good.
Station Five: Danish Axe
We know Thor is famous for his hammer, but we think this Danish Axe is a great stand in for his Axe Stormbreaker.
What super weapon name would you give this axe?
Similarity:
The head of Stormbreaker is made from a highly durable material known as Uru. It takes the power and heat of a star to melt Uru so it can be worked into an axe head. Stars burn at around 300,000°F.
Our axe head is made from iron or steel (which is iron with added carbon). The metal would be heated in a forge to around 1400°F then hammered into shape. A steel edge or bronze decoration would be attached by hammering the metals together.
Difference:
Our axe was found in a river, it was made in the 10th or 11th century.
Stormbreaker was forged by Marvel characters Thor, Rocket and Groot. Thor nearly died from the heat of the forge and Groot used one of his branches as the axe shaft.
Station: Six Belt Knife
Batman carries all kinds of things in his utility belt.
Can you find a belt that hides a knife?
This looks like the belt of a super villain to me, what do you think?
Difference:
Most of the items in Batman’s belt are used to help him out of sticky situations. He has smoke bombs, a rebreather (to help him in poison gas), money and sweets! Even his Batarangs (throwing stars) are non-lethal.
This belt knife is definitely intended to do serious harm or even kill. It’s counted as an offensive weapon and you could go to prison if you were found wearing it.