Armouries

Armouries are storage facilities for weapons, ammunition, and related equipment. The term can refer to a dedicated building at a military installation, a department within a base, a police or naval depot, or a museum collection that preserves arms and gear.

Historically, armouries began as fortress or royal magazines used to store arms and munitions. In medieval Europe, armourers also maintained swords, armor, and bowcraft. With the rise of centralized state power, arsenals and armories grew into formal facilities responsible for manufacture, repair, and distribution of weapons to forces. Modern armories focus on secure storage, inventory control, and the issuing and return of equipment to units, while maintenance is performed by qualified armourers or technicians.

Typical contents include firearms, ammunition, edged weapons, armor or protective gear, maintenance tools, spare parts, and documentary records. Operations emphasize security, access control, routine inspections, and precise accounting. In addition to military and police contexts, armories may exist within museums or castles to house historical collections for study and display.

Types and contexts vary: military armories, police armories, naval armories, and fortress or castle armories are common, while museums and heritage sites maintain armories to preserve historical arms and armor. The term is closely related to arsenal; some facilities are described as arsenals when their scale is larger. Armories require strict safety and security protocols to prevent accidents and unauthorized access.