Great North Museum: Hancock library

The Great North Museum: Hancock Library is on the second floor of the Museum, and is open to the public.

The library brings together four collections unrivalled in their uniqueness and academic relevance.

The libraries of the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (SANT), Newcastle University's Cowen Library and the archives of the NHSN make up this special collections library.

The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (SANT) and the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) were both born out of the prolific Newcastle Literary & Philosophical Society, in 1813 and 1829 respectively, but this is the first time these libraries have been brought together in one building.

The collections are now managed and cared for by librarian Nicky Clarke and NHSN archivist June Holmes, and aided by a team of enthusiastic society members and volunteers.



 

Living Planet

The 'Bio-Wall' houses hundreds of creatures and by using a mixture of touch screen technology and hands-on investigations, visitors can investigate these animals and find out where they live and how they survive in such extreme places as the arctic and desert. Integrated into this major display are live animal tanks and aquaria where visitors can see tropical fish, pythons, lizards and leaf cutting ants to name a few. See a full size model of an elephant, a great white shark, a virtual aquarium, live animal displays and polar bear. The space also includes a display on skeletons and invertebrates.

Fossil Stories

Discover the Earths past through its fossil record and find out how amazing some of these creatures were. Learn about the major changes to the landscape and the animals and plants that were around millions of years ago. Visitors can become palaeontologists and re-assemble a pre-historic creature using virtual technology. Sound, touch and animation brings alive a world that disappeared millions of years ago. This gallery also has a display on Crystals and Gems providing a sparkling story about minerals their formation, function and beauty. Star objects include a full-sized skeleton of T-rex, live animal tanks, fossil trees, and a huge ichthyosaur fossil (fish lizard). Image credit: T.rex original in the Museum of the Rockies

Natural Northumbria

This gallery looks at the Natural History of Northumbria and provides a 'toolkit' for identifying wildlife! Visitors can discover what makes the region special in terms of the animals and plants as well as paying a 'virtual' visit to a number of sites in the region. Investigation Hides provide the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at how animals and plants live and behave in the region's woodlands, uplands, lowlands, and coastal areas.

Image credit: Graeme Peacock

Hadrian's Wall

An interactive model of the Wall enables visitors to discover the detailed history of this amazing fortification as well as finding out about all the forts, milecastles and associated museums that can be visited today. The gallery includes a wealth of archaeological finds and visitors can hear stories of life on the Wall from the people who actually lived at the time. See an inscription stone that provides conclusive proof that the Wall was built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian. Also on display is the gold Aemelia Ring, believed to be one of the earliest Christian artefacts found in Britain. Find out more about the legacy of the Romans through the Reticulum and Virtual Mithraeaum online schools resources.

Image credit: Graeme Peacock

View the video of the Virtual Mithraeaum here.

Ancient Egyptians

An exciting exploration of life and death in Ancient Egypt, this exhibition combines the Museum's own Ancient Egyptian collections with a number of spectacular objects on loan from the British Museum. The exhibition takes visitors through a fascinating journey which explores how the Ancient Egyptians were shaped by the Nile and how they lived their everyday lives as well as their mystical religious beliefs. Visitors will be able to take a dramatic journey through the transition from Life to Death by passing though a tunnel which spans a virtual River Nile. Star objects include two mummies, one unwrapped (Irt Irw) and one wrapped (Bakt hor Nekht) still inside her beautifully painted coffin.

Ancient Greeks

This gallery features the Shefton collection, one of the most important collections of Greek and Etruscan art and archaeology in the country. Find out what it was like to be an Ancient Greek and how this great civilisation was shaped by the mountainous terrain that helped to create many different city states. Visitors can listen to stories of Greek myths, and a huge frieze portrays images taken from the actual objects which are displayed down the centre of the gallery.

Explore

An exploratory space for all the family to find out about the Museum's collectors, the reasons why we collect, and the types of classification which can be adopted. This gallery interprets the Museum's Anglo-Saxon and Medieval collections and provides a wide range of activities and handling material which can be studied either on a casual weekend visit or in a more formal class. Identification reference books and computer interactives support the themes of the natural world, ancient world and world cultures.

Image credit: Casson Mann

World Cultures

This gallery shows some of the most exciting objects in the museum’s collection from many world cultures – the Islands of the Pacific, the great land masses of Africa and Asia, the plains of North America, as well some parts of Europe (including Newcastle, of course!). Image credit: Casson Mann

Roman Empire

This display explores objects from the wider Roman Empire including a huge porphyry foot and one of the most famous coins in the world, a Roman silver denari of Anthony and Cleopatra.

The Mouse House - Under Fives' Gallery

At first sight, the room appears to be a Victorian collector's library but on closer inspection all is not what it seems! What looks like a bookshelf reveals doors that can be opened to reveal inhabitants of the natural world with places to investigate and children become mice or bookworms. Oversized furniture lends an 'Alice in Wonderland' feel to the space and children are encouraged to be the 'collectors of tomorrow' by carrying out a range of fun and investigative activities which echo the contents of the main galleries.

Mouse House Gallery Interpreter Kathryn Franklin-Johnston holds Saturday Storytimes in the Mouse House Gallery for the under 5s every other Saturday at 10:30 and 11:30. Songs, stories and learning through play.

Special Exhibitions Gallery

A fabulous 500m2 temporary exhibition gallery houses world class touring exhibitions. It also showcases the Museum's collections on a changing basis and provides a venue for large scale events, functions and corporate hospitality. The gallery can be divided into three separate spaces allowing complete flexibility in exhibition and event programming.

Planetarium

Our state-of-the-art, digital, full cinema planetarium allows visitors to take a dramatic journey through space to explore the solar system. 

Planetarium Screening Times:

Infinity Express (24 minute running time)

Screening times: 2pm, 3.30pm, 4pm

Admission: Adults £2.50, child / concessions £1.50, family £7.20

Dawn of the Space Age (42 minute running time)

Screening times: 10.10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2.30pm

Admission: Adults £2.95, child / concessions £1.95, family £9

Screenings are in association with the Evening Chronicle