UK's oldest museum reveals new £11.6million redevelopment plan
A FREE to visit museum that claims to be the oldest in the UK has revealed what to expect ahead of it's multi-million pound makeover.
The Royal Armouries - which is home to the national collection of arms and armour - in Leeds, has secured a government loan to purchase the land it stands on.
4
4
According to the BBC, the director of the museum Nat Edwards said: "We pride ourselves on being the world's oldest museum.
"We've been around since at least the early 14th Century, but for most of our history it was sitting in the Tower of London
"This is the first time in 702 years that we've owned our own home."
The Royal Armouries moved from London to Leeds in the 1990s as part of a project to regenerate what was a "pretty grim, post industrial" part of the city.
The museum is publicly-owned and free to visit and includes items from around the world such as Henry VIII's armour and James Bond 's Walther PPK.
Mr Edwards added that as well as securing a home for the different historical exhibits, the deal would also protect the museum's future.
Part of the future plans for the site include the development of the tityard site - which is used for jousting matches and displays - into a multipurpose riverside arts, events and conference space.
The museum is also planning to refurbish its exhibition galleries, which includes adding digital technology.
Plans include immersive spaces to help improve educational experiences too.
Mr Edwards suggest that this space could see the recreation of a battlefield experience - bringing the history to life.
Science and Industry museum manchester
In addition, the wider site that the museum acquired around Leeds Dock is also been looked at for new housing developments.
Mr Edwards shared shared that the museum is keen to support wider housing development in the south side of Leeds, but thinks that the area around the Armouries is "such an important public space".
The Royal Armouries also works with the Ministry of Defence to help new recruits into the army better understand the realities of war.
And the museum works with the Border Force, the police and various other intelligence services - some of which involves training AI systems to detect weapons in suitcases and working with the police to limit the effects of 3D printed weapons.
Mr Edwards shared that the key to the museum's success was developing these partnerships and creating spaces and tools to tell the stories of human conflict.
The museum's collection includes items which detail British colonial history in East Africa, for example.
Last year, one of the UK's biggest free attractions revealed more plans for its massive £1billion revamp.
Plus, a Sun reporter headed to London's newest immersive attraction designed for selfie-loving tourists.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
33 minutes ago
- BBC News
Alternative designs for condemned Gateshead flyover unveiled
Designs reimagining a condemned concrete carriageway as a green landmark have been University's Farrell Centre invited ideas for how the Gateshead flyover, which was closed six months ago due to structural concerns and is set to be demolished, could be entries, now on display at the centre, imagine it as a lush green space lined with trees and gardens, which could also become a walking and cycling is hoped the designs could spark a conversation about the future of Tyneside's wider infrastructure – including the Central Motorway. Suggestions for how the flyover and the space underneath it could be used by the Gateshead community include allotments, markets, play areas, repair shops, performance spaces, and sports facilities such as basketball courts and football Centre director Owen Hopkins told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The council has decided what it wants to do and that is their role, but what we wanted to do was to use this as an opportunity for a counterpoint. "We are not necessarily trying to influence or change any decisions that have been made, it is about showing the possibilities for when other situations like this inevitably occur."There are a good amount of flyovers and ageing bits of concrete infrastructure... we feel that there are opportunities to creatively reimagine those." Anneliese Hutchinson, strategic director for economy, innovation and growth at the council, said that while the structure's condition meant it had to be demolished rather than repaired or repurposed, the council welcomed the competition's "imaginative approach".She added: "Many of the ideas put forward are not actually reliant on the flyover remaining in place."So there might be potential to integrate some of these ideas into our wider regeneration plans for the town centre and nearby neighbourhoods." Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Sun
B&Q slashes price of ‘fast-growing' plant – it smells gorgeous, turns deep red in autumn & great for hiding ugly fences
B&Q has cut the price of a stunning plant which grows rapidly and is ideal for filling up garden space in style. Gardeners need to check out this amazing deal which offers a discount on the eyecatching "Star Jasmine" flower. 3 3 YouGarden's Trachelospermum "Star Jasmine" plant comes in a 1.5 Litre Pot, already attached to a 65cm cane. The flowers have gorgeous white petals, and each one represents a twirling star shape. And the entire plant can grow up to one whole metre long. They can be planted in any type of soil and grow all year round, making them accessible and easy to care for. "Star Jasmine" flowers are also great for growing up walls, posts arches and fences. They're bound to impress any visitors with their breathtaking appearance and beautiful aroma. Changing colour over different seasons, the flowers also create all-year round interest, with the foliage turning a rich purple in winter and then a deep-green in spring and summer. Before the discount, the plant cost just £21.99. But since B&Q has offered a deal on these stylish flowers, they will now only set you back £19.79. As it comes as an established plant, all garden-lovers need to do is plant the flowers "in fertile, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade" according to its product description. The description also instructs buyers to "choose a sheltered position that is protected from cold winter winds". The details read: "A south or west-facing wall is ideal. "If growing in pots, use a good quality, soil-based compost, and place some bricks in the bottom to provide ballast. "In particularly cold areas, Trachelospermum is best grown in containers that can be moved to a protected position over winter." The product description aftercare advice says: "Provide the twining stems with an appropriate frame support such as trellis, an obelisk or wires. "During the growing season, water regularly and apply a balanced feed monthly." It also recommends gardeners water the flowers "sparingly" over winter. Customer praised the plant in the review section. One happy buyer said: "Really healthy looking. Lots of fronds for training up my obelisk." Another said that their purchase was "thriving" in their garden.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Mum urges other parents to race and nab ‘longest wearing' Adidas school shoes as they're slashed from £28 to just £16
A MUM has urged other parents to race to Amazon to nab the "longest wearing" school shoes ever for just £16. Alice explained that her son is no stranger to wearing out a pair of black shoes at school. So when she saw all the positive reviews for the adidas Tensaur trainers, she decided to give them a try. And she was more than a little chuffed when they lasted her boy longer than any other pair he'd tried. Now the adidas shoes have been reduced on Amazon, Alice took to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook to encourage other parents to nab some too. Sharing a screenshot of the shoes on the site, she wrote alongside it: "Currently £16! "These have been the longest wearing school shoes my son has had!" The original price of the shoes is £28, so the discount isn't one to be sniffed at. And other mums took to the comments section to share their own positive reviews of the shoes too. "My son had these - first year this year and lasted so well," one wrote. "We've had these every year and love them," another said. "These are the ones the boys have and they last ages," a third wrote, tagging a friend. "I have to agree!" someone else added. "My son was going through shoes every term. Got these and they lasted over a school year just brought them again in the next size up! "He also loves them. Even wears them day to day as so comfortable, he says." "My son has these every year! That's a bargain. Might buy next size up," another commented. "I literally love these shoes - they're the only ones that have lasted for my son at school," someone else agreed. "Love these shoes," another said. EXTRA HELP WITH SCHOOL UNIFORM COSTS IF you can't get targeted help from your council, you might have some other options available to you. In some areas, you can talk directly to your school, which might be able to offer you clothing. Or, you might be able to get cheap garments from low-budget shops or charity stores. Some charities offer help to families in need too. But bear in mind charities often have a limited amount of money to give and usually have specific criteria which must be met in order to get a grant. Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you. Meanwhile, you can always try approaching your nearest Citizens' Advice branch. If you don't know where your nearest Citizens' Advice branch is, you can find out by visiting If you're not eligible for a school uniform grant you might be able to get help through the Household Support Fund. "My son has had the same pair since September - definitely a record in our house!" While others admitted they'd already bought the shoes - at a much higher price. "I've just paid £23 for these," one sighed. "Man just bought these at full price last week," another added. And some people said there are other shoes that they prefer for their kids. "Nothing beats Geox shoes for school," one wrote. "Reinforced toes!!! My son can ruin school shoes in a week easily. "Scuffs his feet & wears holes in the feet very quickly."
