Hall of Steel, Leeds / Paul8032

The view provided by the display, encompassing every floor of the armoury, overlooks the city of Leeds, Clarence Dock, and the Air/Clader navigation canal. It is a very different world from the one in which those swords were used. Conflict happens on a supposedly more sophisticated level thousands of miles away from us, out of sight and shamefully, out of many of our minds.  Our cities are no longer the fortresses they once were but rather places we come for excitement and pleasure.

We see those swords, one after the other, over 2,500 pieces of steel, and we can attempt to imagine the masses of armoured soldiers marching across the very lands we amble along with our friends. We walk those hills breathing in the fresh air, exercising our bodies that sit in front of computers, and anticipating a warm pub meal afterwards as a reward. The weight of our backpack in which we carry a couple of water bottles is nothing compared to the weight of armour those soldiers had to carry and the sense of dread and fear that could have been lurking at every turn.

We stand and stare at the largest mass display of arms and armour since the 19th century. Armour from as early as the 1600’s, and military equipment from the 1800’s. The display is beautiful, but is also sad. One wonders how much blood has been shed by the seemingly endless display of swords mounted all around. What were the emotions running through the hearts of those who held them? Fear? Anger? Exhilaration? Did those swords make those men feel powerful, or vulnerable? I suspect each sword has several stories to tell, stories we try and tell through fiction, but stories we will never really know.

The Hall of Steel sets distinguishes the Royal Armoury from other museums. One feels as though they have stumbled into a mass grave, or at best, a memorial or tribute. The men who held those swords are all dead, but we remain, wondering what it was really like. War and conflict are things we still have not managed to abolish and avoid. We are reminded that what was such a reality for them is still our reality today.

We know it’s wrong but we are fascinated by violence. We know it should not result in hurting people, but we long for something to pour lives into. We sense a thrill in risk, which compels us to jump from airplanes and hang from bungee cords. It is with great fascination that we pour over the actual weapons, armour, and equipment used throughout history, knowing that much of what has happened in the past has resulted in where we are today.

The Royal armoury has a way of satisfying our curiosity about the armour, displaying it for us to wonder about and admire, but amidst all the displays, informational videos, and artwork, the Hall of Steel stops us in our tracks and challenges us to consider the realities of war. It asks us questions we most likely don’t know the answer to, filling us with conflicting emotions of awe, admiration, pride, but also sadness, horror, and doubt.

Robert Goodwood writes historical articles on behalf of Hello Yorkshire.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Nick Ares

Personalisation

You may think your black suitcase is highly distinctive, but when you’re standing at the luggage carousel with the other 300 people from your holiday flight, all of whom also have a black suitcase, it may suddenly seem a bit less identifiable. Personalise your luggage in a way which will let you spot it quickly on the luggage belt or when it comes off a coach with a brightly coloured ribbon tied around the handles, stickers or a luggage strap marked with your name or even a favourite football club. The more unusual the personalisation, the easier it will be to grab your bag quickly.

Labelling and Security

Statistics show that for every 1,000 passengers who fly, 3 arrive at their destination without their bags. 98% of this luggage is eventually reunited with its proper owners, and this process can be made quicker by attaching labels to each piece of luggage with your name and contact details such as mobile number or email address. It is never wise to pack expensive electrical items in your hold baggage; it is best to keep these items with you in the cabin of the plane.

Choice of Luggage

The type of luggage which you take will depend on the sort of trip. A Samsonite hard sided case is not the best choice for a month trekking in the Himalayas, and you may feel out of place at a very smart hotel with a battered old rucksack. For weekends away, something like The North Face Base Camp Duffel bag is light, portable and comes in a range of eye-catching colours. As The North Face Base Camp Duffel is relatively unusual, it will also be easy to pick out on the carousel.

Excess Baggage

When booking your tickets, check the regulations about baggage carefully. Although for many long haul trips the luggage limit may be as high as 30kg, on budget airlines passengers are subject to much stricter regulations about what they are allowed to check in, both in terms of size and weight. Some airlines such as BA have a flat rate of £40 for bags up to 10kg over the limit, whereas others such as Ryanair charge £20 per kilo for overweight bags. Weigh your bags before leaving for the airport to avoid any nasty surprises at check in.

Carry On Luggage

With the high rates for checked in luggage, it can be tempting to cram everything into the bag you take onto the plane with you. Airlines have a limit on the weight you can take onto the plane with you, and a heavy bag falling out of the overhead lockers can be dangerous. Budget airlines are strict about the size of cabin baggage, and anything over the limit will have to be checked in. Measure your bags against the dimensions quoted on the airline’s website to ensure you will be allowed to take your bag on the plane.

Trekitt offer a large range of travel bags including The North Face Basecamp Duffel.

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