Leeds nostalgia: Elephant armour on display during half term

Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the rich and varied culture of India this February half term, at the Royal Armouries in Leeds through its exhibits and events for all the family, including dance, cookery, yoga and music.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Feb 2016, 23:31 BST
Conservation officer Alison Draper with the 'Elephant Armour' at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds. Its as taken two days to to mount the elephant armour centrepiece in the Oriental Gallery.Conservation officer Alison Draper with the 'Elephant Armour' at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds. Its as taken two days to to mount the elephant armour centrepiece in the Oriental Gallery.
Conservation officer Alison Draper with the 'Elephant Armour' at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds. Its as taken two days to to mount the elephant armour centrepiece in the Oriental Gallery.

Activities will highlight the museum’s impressive national collection of Indian arms and armour, including remarkable items such as their world record breaking Elephant armour and stunning jewel-encrusted weapons.

Throughout the week the museum will also host a variety of tours, talks, craft sessions and film screenings.

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Events officer Gail Cockerill said, “It’s going to be a fantastic week packed full of a variety of cultural activities, creating a really fun half term programme for everyone to engage with.”

Pictured is conservation officer Alison Draper with the ‘Elephant Armour’ at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds. It’s as taken two days to to mount the elephant armour centrepiece in the Oriental Gallery. The world record was set in 2004 for the ‘largest suit of animal armour’, which is also the only surviving piece of its kind in the world and can be found in situ on a life size model elephant in the museum’s Oriental Gallery. The armour was brought back to Britain by the wife of the second Lord Clive, who was the governor of Madras, in 1801, displayed in Powis Castle until 1949, when it was transferred to the Tower of London for repair. It was . It was acquired by the Royal Armouries in 1962 in lieu of death duties. For more information: www.royalarmouries.org

Related topics:IndiaLeeds