Armoury

Tour of house and gardens

Armoury

From the Great Hall, a passage leads through to the Clock Court and thence to the old Laundry of the House, which has now been converted into an Armoury. It contains an outstanding collection of swords, pistols and armour, some of which are over 500 years old. There are weapons from many parts of the world - pistols from France and Germany, Farrara sword blades from Italy, fine ivory daggers from India and lethal looking Ottoman daggers. Of particular historic interest is the famous Sword of Ramillies which was worn to battle by the great Duke of Marlborough. Some of the pistols can be seen to bear the mark of the Tower of London - a reminder of the fact that John, 2nd Duke of Montagu (Marlborough's son-in-law) was Master of the Ordnance there during the mid 18th Century.