Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > FEATURED-STORIES > Contrary Life goes behind enemy lines at the Royal Armouries Museum

Contrary Life goes behind enemy lines at the Royal Armouries Museum

By Caroline King - May 9, 2013Posted in : FEATURED-STORIES, Museum, Review

Royal Armouries Museum Leeds When: Open daily, 10am – 5pm

Where: Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, Leeds LS10 1LT

£: Free

What is it?

The Royal Armouries Museum situated on Clarence Dock in Leeds is open daily with free admission.  As Contrary Life was in the city we decided to take a peek at this museum to see what it has to offer the quirky explorer.

On entering the museum we were greeted by pleasant staff who handed over a leaflet of the days activities available.  The amount of events was impressive, with something to suit all the family from talks and demonstrations to tours and dressing up.

Contrary Life liked the sound of the talk on S.O.E. agents so went along to find out more.  The talk was thoroughly interesting with a look at the weapons available to protect agents from capture to the methods of concealing secret information.  The Liberator gun was a small cheap weapon that was really only good at point-blank range and for single use.  Thanks to its cheap cost to make the gun was also referred to as the Woolworths gun.  Maps were often printed on silk rather than paper as they were easier to conceal and made less of a rustling sound.  As well as these nuggets of wartime information the talk covered some anecdotes of the near capture of agents.

Royal Armouries Museum Leeds The museum itself is set over several floors with hunting, tournament, war, self-defence and oriental galleries as well as a shooting gallery, cafe and shop.  On display are weapons and armour with how these conflict-related artefacts have shaped our history, war, sport and leisure.  Possibly the most interesting, certainly for Contrary Life, is the Oriental Gallery with the decorative and intricate displays of swords, horse armour, helmets and even an elephant’s protective garments.

The museum is well thought out with the galleries styled to match the theme of the area and subject it represents.  The free talks, which last about 20 minutes, are informative and great for those of us not fascinated with war and guns but have a curiosity for history and people.

More info: www.royalarmouries.org

Related Posts

  • Get ready for some daring displays at Tankfest
  • Vintage bus trips and musical boat rides at Leeds Waterfront Festival
  • Vintage flair at Leeds Vintage fair
  • Bags, Tags and Gasmasks as Evacuees appear in Laugharne
  • Have A Twilight Experience at Harewood House

Tagged With: Family events, Free events, Leeds events, Royal Armouries Museum, West Yorkshire events, Yorkshire

Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

The World Egg Throwing Championships are no yolk
World Egg Throwing Championship 2016

Are you a tosser? If so, you may want to head to Lincolnshire this weekend as the 15th World Egg Throwing Championships takes place…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 · Contrary Life