Online Exhibitions

Dean Castle Arms and Armour

Prime among Dean Castle's vast and varied assortment of objects is its collection of arms and armour, the majority of which once belonging to Thomas Scott-Ellis, 8th Baron Howard de Walden. The 8^th Lord Howard de Walden was a keen medievalist and enthusiast of knighthood and chivalry. With assistance from notable sculptor and armourer Felix Joubert, he acquired a large collection of arms and armour to be housed in Dean Castle following a programme of restoration work to the castle and keep. The majority of the arms and armour collection are 15^th and 16^th century European creations, however several key objects have origins in East Asia and the Indian sub-continent.

Some objects are also commissioned reproductions, which was common practice among collectors and gentleman scholars, such as the 8^th Lord Howard de Walden, to augment their collections.

The De Walden arms and armour were gifted to East Ayrshire Council in 1974 by his son, the 9^th Lord Howard de Walden, along with the Dean Castle and its estate, tapestries, and a collection of early musical instruments: a Recognised Collection of National Significance, some of which you can see here. While the Dean Castle undergoes its restoration work that is due to be completed in 2021, you can see some of these objects and many more at the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock. Other objects from the arms and armour collections at Dean Castle are from the Walker and Braidwood Collections.

This online exhibition was curated by Abigayle Brown and Megan Stamper as part of the Dean Castle Restoration Project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and East Ayrshire Leisure.

Although the original pupose for many of these pieces of weaponry and body armour are tools of defence, several of these objects are also excellent examples of form and design. For a romantic medievalist like Thomas Evelyn Scott-Ellis, the 8^th Lord Howard de Walden, his collection was not only for display, but also - at times - for costume. Joubert designed a suit of armour made to measure for 'Tommy' who alongside collecting weaponry and armour, liked to stage jousting tournaments and historical pageants. According to Tommy's grandson, portrait artist Augustus John was once bemused to find him sat for breakfast and reading a newspaper in a full suit of armour.

As well as modern replicas, the collection also includes fine examples of both combat and ceremonial weaponry and armour, and also implements for hunting. There are several swords and daggers, gauntlets and a pair of sabatons, full and half suits of armour and pieces of barding such as a chamfron to protect a horse's face.