The Development of Gunpowder Weapons in Medieval England, Dr Dan Spencer (Royal Armouries online lecture series)

This talk explores the early history of gunpowder weapons in England, from their introduction in c.1327 to the end of the fifteenth century.

In this talk Dr Dan Spencer will discuss the early history of gunpowder weapons in England from their introduction in c.1327 to the end of the fifteenth century, using the research carried out for his book, Royal and Urban Gunpowder Weapons in Late Medieval England, the first comprehensive study of this subject. Illustrated by early items held by the Royal Armouries including the Boxted Bombard at Fort Nelson and handguns at Leeds, the lecture will explore:

• How guns changed over time.
• Who medieval gunners were and the skills they had.
• How fortifications changed in response.
• When guns were first used on the battlefield by the English.
• How reliable and safe early guns were.

The lecture will be of interest to anyone interested in the history and development of weapons or infantry tactics during the late seventeenth and eighteenth century. A large part of the research for this lecture was conducted using the Royal Armouries Reference collection at Leeds.

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