Built between 1533 and 1557, the Armoury behind St James Cavalier was used by the Knights for the storage of ordnance. This was an isolated utilitarian structure, originally all on ground level, with a door in each of its four sides to facilitate the rapid supply of armaments and ammunition.

During the Great Siege of 1565 the Armoury also served as a temporary hospital. The first floor was added at around 1636 and the British converted the building into a military hospital, before later using it as soldiers’ quarters.

After being badly damaged during the Second World War, the building was restructured and is now being used as offices for the Cottonera Rehabilitation Project.