Library

We have a library at each of our museums and all are open to the public but visitors must book in advance and photographic ID is required to access the special collections and archives.

All three libraries are closed Saturday, Sunday & public holidays. The Royal Armouries Museum library in Leeds is also closed on Monday.

Visit our online library catalogue for detailed information about our holdings and site specific opening times and location.

Royal Armouries Museum

Please note that the library will be closed over the festive period, from 17th December until 7th January 2019. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

One of the largest arms and armour reference libraries in the world

• Over 40,000 books, pamphlets and journals, relating to the development and history of arms and armour, and related subjects:
  • art
  • technology
  • warfare
  • chivalry and knighthood
  • martial arts
  • hunting
  • shooting
  • general history
• Museum and exhibition catalogues from around the world
• Early books on fencing dating from the 14th to the 20th century, including works by:
  • Marozzo
  • di Grassi
  • Thibault
  • Hope
  • Angelo
  • Hutton
• Books on the art of war and military manuals dating from the 16th to the late 19th century, including works by:
  • Sir John Smythe
  • Henry Hexham
  • Sir David Dundas
  • Captain Nolan
• Arms and armour auction sales catalogues dating from the 1790’s to the present day

White Tower

Our library at the Tower of London collects material on the history of the Tower of London and its institutions, including:

• Board of Ordnance
• The Tower as a State Prison
• Mint
• Public Record Office
• Menagerie
• There is also a reference collection of works on arms and armour, castles and fortifications, and site related material
• Photographs, historic prints and slides covering various aspects of Tower history

• Archives containing historical documents relating to The Royal Armouries and Tower history
• Microfilm archive with specific reference to the Yeoman Warders’ Dividends book 1660 – 1700
• Records from St. Peter ad Vincula covering:
  • marriages (1587-1752)
  • baptisms (1587- 1821)
  • burials (1550-1821)
  • State Papers Domestic (1547-1625)

Fort Nelson

The library at Fort Nelson collects material on the history and development of artillery and fortification. There is also a small reference collection of works on arms and armour including:

• Early books
• handbooks,
• drill manuals relating to artillery and fortification

We also have a large image library of objects in our collection. These images are available for personal and commercial use.