The Heralds' Museum was a museum of

heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, Imperial, royal and noble ranks, rank and genealo ...

run by the

College of Arms Trust The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Soverei ...

at the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...

during the 1980s. It was situated in the old

Waterloo Barracks Waterloo most commonly refers to: * Battle of Waterloo, 1815 battle where Napoleon's French army was defeated by Anglo-allied and Prussian forces * Waterloo, Belgium Waterloo may also refer to: Other places Australia *Waterloo, New South Wales ...

within the Tower. The original idea came from Sir Anthony Wagner,

Garter Principal King of Arms Garter Principal King of Arms (also Garter King of Arms or simply Garter) is the senior king of arms and officer of arms of the College of Arms, the heraldic authority with jurisdiction over England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The position has ...

. Wagner hoped to establish a

museum A museum is an institution dedicated to displaying or Preservation (library and archive), preserving culturally or scientifically significant objects. Many museums have exhibitions of these objects on public display, and some have private colle ...

in which to display the treasures of the

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...

. A plan for a building adjacent to the college was commissioned from

Raymond Erith Raymond Charles Erith RA FRIBA (7 August 1904 – 30 November 1973) was a leading classical architect in England during the period dominated by the modern movement after the Second World War. His work demonstrates his continual interest in expan ...

, but not taken forward due to the increasing financial demands of repairs to the college building. In 1980, the Heralds' Museum was opened by the

Duke of Kent Duke of Kent is a title that has been created several times in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, most recently as a royal dukedom for the fourth son of King George V. Since 1942, the title has been held by Prince Edwa ...

as part of the Tower of London. The museum was open during the summer season and admission was included in admission to the Tower. Exhibits included items from the collection of College of Arms and artifacts borrowed from other sources.

Peter Spurrier Peter Brotherton Spurrier (9 August 1942 – 13 January 2005) was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was appointed Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary in 1981, and York Herald of Arms in Ordinary in 1992. He retired f ...

served as its curator, and

John Brooke-Little John Philip Brooke Brooke-Little (6 April 1927 – 13 February 2006) was an English writer on heraldry, heraldic subjects, and a long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London. In 1947, while still a student, Brooke-Little founded the Soc ...

as its director. Sybil Burnaby was its press officer.Sybil Burnaby, ''The Heralds' Museum at the Tower of London'', Museums Journal, 1982, p. 114. The museum closed later in the 1980s following the reorganization of the Royal Palaces.

References

Tower of London Defunct museums in London Heraldic sites British heraldry {{Coord, 51, 30, 29, N, 0, 4, 34, W, type:landmark_scale:3000_region:GB, display=title