Shaping the Ordnance Office Collections at the Tower of London: The impact of colonial expansion, diplomacy, and donation in the early nineteenth century

ABSTRACT The Tower of London had a number of different and sometimes conflicting functions in the early nineteenth century. Among these its role as a museum underwent significant development during this period. Moves by the Ordnance Office to improve public access to its historic collections at the Tower as well as providing greater historical accuracy were clear reflections of a wider national trend. Attention has generally been focused on the developments to the historic collections in the New Horse Armoury; yet as this article demonstrates there were other aspects of the Ordnance Office collections at the Tower which were also undergoing noteworthy changes as a consequence of British diplomatic activity, overseas military successes, and continuing territorial expansion.