Research builds our understanding of how arms and armour have been used throughout history, and tells the story of their impact.
We encourage and actively provide facilities for research into arms and armour and related subjects across the globe and across all periods of history.
The heart of the museum is our collection of 70,000 examples of arms and armour from antiquity to the present day.
We welcome visitors to see objects on and off display, to arrange a visit to the research collections, contact enquiries@armouries.org.uk.
Our other research assets also include:
As well as providing access to the collection and our expertise, we also work in more formal partnerships with researchers. As an Independent Research Organisation, we have been judged to have the capacity to conduct research that substantially extends and enhances the national research base. This means we can apply for UK government funding in the same way as a university.
Our Research Steering Group evaluates potential research collaborations, in line with the museum’s Research Strategy and Research Ethics policy.
If you are thinking of working with the museum for academic research, contact enquiries@armouries.org.uk.
We also provide commercial consultancy and historical research services.
Learn more about our collections staff by viewing their profiles and research interests.
We publish much of the research we do in our journal Arms & Armour, as well as including its results in our online stories, and in shorter-form outputs in our social media channels.
Where we are able, we make this research available to read without payment.