Honourable Artillery Company Museum Greater London hotels:

The Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 and is the oldest volunteer regiment in the world. The museum opened in 1987 to display the Company's collection of uniforms, armour, silver, medals and decorations, weapons, equipment and applied art. The archives which date from 1657 include a collection of about 150 early printed books (1616 -1800) are of particular interest for 17th and 18th century militia and City matters. Armoury House, which is the home of the HAC, was built to replace a smaller 17th Century armoury. The central portion was completed in 1735 to designs by Thomas Stibbs. King George I gave the Company £500 and it was decided to put this towards a new armoury. Subscriptions were also received from members of the Company and from the Court of Lieutenancy for the City of London. The building cost £1,690, which included the price of the furniture.
The original main interior on the ground floor was a Great Room which was used for drills. It is now divided into an entrance hall, the Queen’s Room and the Museum. The latter allows the Company to display some of its finest uniforms, equipment, and other treasures. The only known surviving stone rover, or archery mark, and the bell of SS Westmeath, the ship that transported members of the HAC to France in 1914, are above the Great Stairway on either side of the door into the Long Room. In the Long Room can be seen several portraits of Royal Captains-General and of Colonels Commandant of the Company. The Court Room has always been used for meetings of the Court of Assistants and other committees. It retains many of its 18th Century features and houses one of the Company’s oldest possessions, a suit of 16th Century tilting armour. The Sutling Room contains a bar and is only open to members of the Company and their male guests. Its name is derived from the Dutch word ‘sutler’ (a man who sold provisions to soldiers).