Royal Armouries Fort Nelson

20/06/2020

Fort Nelson Museum Assistant, Alistair Peers, talks about his favourite object from the collection.

My favourite piece is the Falcon. Coming from a period when the battlefield was a melting pot of traditional and “modern” warfare, it served alongside armoured horse, pike and shot.

Thought to be French or Flemish, its intention was anti-personnel and although an early black powder piece it had the ability to wreck and ruin.

The cost of one of these would be a soldier's wage for 37.5 years, and you could afford 150 ‘handgonnes’ for the same price.

Though comparatively primitive, during the Sack of Rome (1527) a Falcon was used to clip a lone Spanish officer in half from over 2000 metres away.

So impressive was this feat, Pope Clement VII at the time asked the gunner for an explanation of this trick-shot.

To see more of the Royal Armouries collection online look at: https://collections.royalarmouries.org/#/objects
#History @FortNelson

20/06/2020

As the longest day of the year dawns this weekend, here’s the wonderful view from Fort Nelson to brighten your day.

We would love you to share your sunrise and sunset pictures with us.

19/06/2020

Support Us post – Bringing History to Life

What do you miss about Fort Nelson? What are you most looking forward to seeing when we open our doors again?

We want to say a big thank you to all our supporters who have continued to donate while we have been closed.

Your support is more important than ever and is helping to protect and preserve our collection and bring history to life.

To find out more about how you can help visit https://royalarmouries.org/support-us/

#FortNelson

19/06/2020

#DidYouKnow that throughout Fort Nelson there is graffiti on the walls left by the former soldiers who lived there.

These are a fascinating historical resource which provides an insight into what life was like for a soldier and living in the fort at this time.

@FortNelson

18/06/2020

There is still time to sign up for our free online lecture tomorrow about medieval battlefield prosthetics - Dangling from a strip of skin” - which will be delivered by Rachael Gillibrand.

If you would like to attend the lecture please sign up at EventBrite at https://bit.ly/3dWBIlu and we will send you joining instructions.

#FortNelson #History #MuseumFromHome

18/06/2020

Thank you to the Palmerston Forts Society for sharing this picture of the parade ground at Fort Nelson, which was taken in 1986.

You can see that the brick ammunition sheds extend across more of the area than they do today as in 1992/1993 several of these sheds were demolished to make way for the Artillery Hall.

The ammunition sheds date from 1938 when anti-aircraft defences were positioned around the Portsmouth area. Nearly 60 anti-aircraft batteries were built around Portsmouth and Southampton - the highest number outside of London.

These guns had to be served with adequate supplies of ammunition, and these magazines at Fort Nelson were constructed to serve many of these batteries.

The Upper West gate was cut through to allow easier access for the heavy vehicles needed to transport the ammunition.

The underground Victorian magazines were also used for AA ammunition storage and were in the main used for the light AA ammunition such as the 40 mm Bofors ammunition. The brick sheds were used for the heavier AA ammunition such as the 3.7-inch. 4.5-inch and 5.25-inch ammunition.

#ThrowBackThursday @FortNelson

17/06/2020

Calling all teachers and parents battling to keep children from 4 - 16 engaged in learning at home.

Our Education team have created a wide range of interactive videos and activity packed worksheets to support you.

Bring history to life at home by visiting the Home Learning Hub on our website at https://bit.ly/2z4e2wi

#lockdownlearning #MuseumFromHome

16/06/2020

If you like our Fort Talks series, then why not try our new online lecture series, whilst our museums are closed.
'Dangling from a strip of skin' is about medieval battlefield prosthetics and will be delivered by Rachael Gillibrand on Friday 19 June.
If you would like to attend the lecture please sign up at EventBrite at https://bit.ly/3dWBIlu and a link will be sent in your confirmation email.
#FortNelson #MuseumFromHome

16/06/2020

We would like to thank Palmerston Forts Society for these fantastic ‘Then and Now’ images of Fort Nelson.

The images shows the west side of the Redan as it is today and compare it to the black and white image from 1979, when the Fort was overgrown and largely neglected.

During the Second World War the Fort was used as an ammunition storage depot and additional security measures led to all the lower external windows of the Redan and barrack block being bricked up.

During the restoration project in 1989 extensive repairs were made to the brickwork and the windows were reinstated.

@FortNelson #History

15/06/2020

We have recently relaunched the Fort Nelson edition of our newsletter to keep you up to date with all the latest news from the museum.
Sign up today at https://bit.ly/3dNd5HA
#FortNelson

13/06/2020

We asked members of our Fort Nelson team to choose their favourite objects from the collection. Here Museum Assistant, Ian Whitewood, tells us about his favourite piece.

"My favourite object is the 24-pounder Bronze Naval gun because of the hidden stories it can tell. From 1756 until 1782 this gun was on the Royal George a British Navy vessel. Whilst moored at Spithead for hull repairs it heeled over and sank.

“This resulted in about 900 people being drowned. Their mass grave is under the Esplanade at Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

“In 1834 the gun was salvaged from the wreck and taken to the Tower of London. There it survived the Grand Storehouse fire in 1841 and a bombing in 1974. It now resides at Fort Nelson."

To see more of the collection online look at:

13/06/2020

Whilst our museums are closed we have moved our lecture series online.
‘Dangling from a strip of skin” about medieval battlefield prosthetics will be delivered by Rachael Gillibrand on Friday 19 June.
If you would like to attend the lecture please sign up at https://bit.ly/3dWBIlu and we will send you joining instructions 24 hours before the event.
#FortNelson #History

12/06/2020

We are looking for new online volunteers to test some of our latest ideas and concepts for digital content to make it work better for all our audiences.
Could you help?
Find out more now https://royalarmouries.volunteermakers.org

12/06/2020

#DidYouKnow that Fort Nelson played a significant role in the Second World War as an anti-aircraft defence and close to 60 anti-aircraft batteries were set up along the coastline around Southampton and Portsmouth – the highest concentration of such defences outside London.
When the war ended in 1945 the Fort was mainly used to store military equipment.
#WW2 #FortNelson

11/06/2020

Our three museums - Fort Nelson, Leeds and the White Tower - may be closed but you can still experience our new exhibition The Field of Cloth of Gold online.
Discover the history of this spectacular Tudor event at https://bit.ly/2YhpInR
#PowerandGlory #MuseumFromHome

11/06/2020

On this #ThrowbackThursday, Alex Briggs, Museum Assistant, remembers the big gun firings at Fort Nelson. Like the Fort, most of these guns date back to the Victorian period - a literal blast from the past!

I can vividly remember the echoing roar of the 32-pounder travel up the North Tunnel that stretches beneath Fort Nelson, as well as the bright flash and hazy smoke produced by the 13-inch mortar in the Mortar Battery. Not to mention, getting a feel for the thunderous boom of the 25-pounder field gun-howitzer, which I've had the honour of firing for myself on a number of occasions.

Whether it's the 32-pounder, the 13-inch mortar, or the 25-pounder field gun-howitzer, I've come to appreciate the sheer power of these war machines from the past, and I look forward to participating in more gun-firings in the future.

#Fort Nelson #History

10/06/2020

Calling all teachers and parents battling to keep children from 4 - 16 engaged in learning at home.

Our Education team have created a wide range of interactive videos and activity packed worksheets to support you.

Bring history to life at home by visiting the Home Learning Hub on our website https://bit.ly/2z4e2wi

#lockdownlearning #MuseumFromHome

10/06/2020

Royal Armouries

Royal Armouries

Join Thomas Davies from Royal Armouries Fort Nelson as he walks you through the weapon Sir Frederick Pile described as "The finest all-purpose gun produced by any nation during the Second World War"

Although, as General Officer Commanding Anti-Aircraft Command, he may have been somewhat biased 👀

10/06/2020

Friday sees the start of our four free online summer lecture series.

The first will explore the developments in armour and the types of tournaments staged in the late Middle Ages at the time of Maximilian I – ‘the last knight’.

The speaker is Jacob Deacon, a doctoral candidate studying at the University of Leeds.

If you would like to ‘attend’ the lecture please sign up and we will send you joining instructions 24 hours before the event. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/royal-armouries-online-lectures-tickets-107548632856

Dates for the lecture diary:
• 12 June - The last knight - Jacob Deacon
• 19 June - ‘Dangling from a strip of skin” – medieval battlefield prosthetics - Rachael Gillibrand
• 17 July - A most beautiful and magnificent joust - Samuel Bradley

#MuseumFromHome #lockdownlearning

09/06/2020

Tudor Power & Glory: Henry VIII and the Field of Cloth and Gold eBook

Read our latest eBook, Tudor Power and Glory: Henry VIII and the Field of Cloth of Gold and discover the captivating story behind the greatest tournament of the Tudor Age. https://bit.ly/2UnHKDW
#ebooks #RoyalArmouries #digitalbooks

Tudor Power and Glory explains the skill of the armourers as they prepared for the Field of Cloth and Gold, the fighting that took place on horse and on foot, and the significance of the Field of Cloth of Gold as a political event as England and France, two emerging nations of old Europe, took their...

08/06/2020

Attention! We have recently relaunched the Fort Nelson edition of our newsletter.

To keep up to date with all the latest news from the museum sign up today
https://bit.ly/3dNd5HA

07/06/2020

Would you like to have a go at making the Dragon Cannon as a jigsaw? Here it is https://buff.ly/2UjJopT
You can also learn more about this item and others in our collection by clicking on https://buff.ly/2zYc4xi
#fortnelson #history

07/06/2020

As Volunteers’ Week 2020 draws to an end, we are asking for people to become Digital Engagement Volunteers for the Royal Armouries.

Volunteers are essential to our everyday work at Fort Nelson and their contribution is invaluable to the site.

We need volunteers to test out some of our exciting ideas and concepts for digital content before we roll them out publicly. Feedback will shape our digital strategy and make it work better for all our audiences.

We are seeking volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds with varying levels of interest in the Royal Armouries – no prior interest in arms and armour needed!

This online role requires 3 hours of your time each month at your own pace, for a 12-month period starting 1st August 2020.

For more information have a look at our website here https://buff.ly/36YTXnj

To all our volunteers we would like to say a huge thank you!

#VolunteerWeek2020

07/06/2020

We asked members of our Fort Nelson team to choose their favourite objects from the collection. Here Sarah Thompson, Museum Assistant, talks about her favourite piece.
“The bronze dragon gun is a beautifully cast barrel. The gun was taken from the palace of King Thebaw at Mandalay in Burma, after the British victory over Burmese in 1885.
“Four similar dragon guns were captured by General Prendergast and were presented to Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales, Rotunda Woolwich and the Governor General of India. The Fort’s belonged to the Prince. I love the detail on this beautiful gun.”
To see more of the collection online look at https://buff.ly/325ZYw6

06/06/2020

The Royal Armouries museum at Fort Nelson is a charity and as well as government funding we rely on income from shop, cafe and car park charges to continue bringing history to life.
Even without these streams of income we continue our work as guardian of the national collection of arms and armour, so at this challenging time we are even more reliant on charitable donations.
If you would like to support us, please visit our donation page https://buff.ly/36YTXnj

06/06/2020

The Art of Prowling, one of a series of training booklets written by Colonel G. A. Wade for the newly-recruited Home Guard, is now available digitally.

This reproduction by the Royal Armouries shows how trainees during the Second World War learned to sneak up on the enemy without being seen.

Suitable for iBooks and Adobe Digital Editions https://buff.ly/35sUj51

#ebooks #Royalarmouries #digitalbooks

05/06/2020

Royal Armouries

Royal Armouries

We condemn racism in all its forms. We recognise that the history which attaches to our collection is often painful and difficult and remains highly relevant today.

There is enormous potential to change how we reflect and represent the histories of diverse audiences and communities.

We are at the beginning of a journey to deliver that change in partnership with the communities we serve, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all, and one in which racism is not tolerated.

#BlackLivesMatter

05/06/2020

The staff at Fort Nelson would like to thank you all for your support, patience and understanding during a difficult time.

We want you to know that we are working behind the scenes to ensure that we can open up the site as soon as it is safe to do so.

05/06/2020

#DidYouKnow that Fort Nelson played a significant role in the First World War.

Lord Kitchener was the Secretary of State for War from 1914 to 1916 and was tasked with recruiting a 500,000 strong army of volunteer soldiers.

Fort Nelson served as a depot for many of these soldiers training and transiting to deployment on the Western Front. It was at the Fort that these recruits would have had their first experience of artillery.

Fort Nelson opened to the public as a national museum and historic monument in 1995.

#WW1 #GreatWar #History

04/06/2020

Dunkirk � Second World War

Eighty years ago today saw the conclusion of Operation Dynamo - the military and civilian effort to rescue the British Expeditionary Force and the French Army from capture by the German armed forces, which had successfully invaded France.

Here is an account of how the arms and armour of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force made the evacuation of the beaches at Dunkirk possible.

Fort Nelson is now home to a 12 pr gun and mounting - 12 pr Mk. V QF Gun (1930-1950) which was used during the operation.

#WW2 #FortNelson

04/06/2020

#ThrowbackThursday
In 2011 a multi-million pound redevelopment programme transformed the Fort into a museum for the 21st century, with new galleries, cafe, visitor centre and state of the art classrooms.
These images show the early stages of the redevelopment starting with ‘The Big Bang’ when a bungalow on the site was blown up by our Sexton.
#fortnelson

03/06/2020

Calling all teachers and parents battling to keep children from 4 - 16 engaged in learning at home.

Our Education team have created a wide range of interactive videos and activity packed worksheets to support you.

Bring history to life at home by visiting the Home Learning Hub on our website. https://buff.ly/3bv3gwR
#fortnelson #MuseumFromHome

03/06/2020

#VolunteerWeek2020

We would like to say a big thank you to every one of our volunteers at Fort Nelson.

Our volunteers help and support activities in Education, Visitor Services and Conservation and their work is vital to ensuring visitors have a great experience – we simply could not do without them.

Our team of volunteers were central to the success of the Poppies: Wave project in 2018, with 120 offering their services.

From car parking, welcoming and directing visitors around site and at the sculpture, to being in the reflection space and interacting with visitors with the handling poppies – they were a key part in enhancing the visitor experience.

To all our volunteers – we say a huge thank you!

#fortnelson #poppies

01/06/2020

Royal Armouries

Present Arms is a series of introductory films all about the design and development of weapons that can be found in the Royal Armouries collection.
Join Andrew Balmforth as he takes a closer look at rapiers and small swords.
https://buff.ly/2AawNhC

🚨NEW SERIES ALERT 🚨Live Interpretation Team Member/weapons buff, Mike Broadley brings you the first instalment of 'Present Arms' - our new collection of videos on all things firearms, including their development, manufacture and performance in the field. Let us know which weapons you would like to see featured in this series 👇 👇 👇

This week, Mike is focusing on the fundaments, answering the question, "What is the difference between a rifle and a musket?"