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Weapons in Society Conference

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World War era tracked gun carrier with white star marking, stationed by seaside fort with barriers and misty background

Since 2019, the Royal Armouries’ Weapons in Society conference has showcased the varied interactions between arms, armour, and culture. Now in its sixth event, it will once again provide an opportunity for early career and postgraduate researchers to mix with academic and heritage professionals, allowing a collaborative dialogue between the worlds of academia and heritage.

This year's conference will be held at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University.

8 September 2026

Royal Armouries Museum

Adults Only

£20 (£12 concessions)

Conference Programme

Weapons in Society VI will feature a varied programme of talks aimed exploring the social, cultural, and political contexts of arms and armour, and the roles these have played throughout history. There will also be a handling session with objects from the museum’s collection and a workshop on creative methods for researching arms and armour, hosted by Professor Catherine Fletcher (Manchester Metropolitan University).

The full programme will be released in mid-August, but accepted papers include:

  • Society inside a British tank
  • Analysing the Wehrmacht's weaponization of horses  
  • Late-medieval arms and armour through Middle-English literature.
  • 'Modern' polearms
  • Reframing regimental museum collections
  • Warfare, status and symbolism of hospitaller arms and armour 
  • The conference will be held in-person at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds.  

For a full programme of the day with abstracts; or for any other questions related to the conference, contact Samantha Vaughan

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  • Tickets: £20 - includes lunch and refreshments.
  • Concessionary rate: £12
    This available for early career researchers (within five years of doctoral award, not counting career breaks) and those in full-time education or part-time education while otherwise unwaged. Booking code required - see below.
  • Post conference meal: There will be an optional self-funded conference meal after the event. Please register your interest - see below.
  • Bursaries
    We anticipate making four bursaries of up to £150 available, to support speakers in attending the event. Delegates can also apply for these bursaries.

To demonstrate eligibility and access the concessionary rate; to register for the self-funded post-conference meal, or for any other questions related to the conference and bursaries, email Samantha Vaughan

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