Garstang Museum of Archaeology

About the museum

The Garstang Museum goes back to 1904, when the archaeologist John Garstang founded the Liverpool Institute of Archaeology in association with the University of Liverpool. A museum and library were set up to support teaching and research, and the first collections were housed in four small ground-floor rooms at 40–42 Bedford Street, thanks to private benefactors.

Bomb damage to that building in 1941 led to the objects being moved to safety on the university campus. After the Second World War they went to 14 Abercromby Square, where the museum has been based since the late 1960s. The Institute had formally become part of the university in 1948, and in 2004, its centenary year, the museum was renamed the Garstang Museum of Archaeology.

The collection is strongest in Egyptian antiquities, many of them from the Institute's own excavations, and it also includes material from Sudan, the Near East and other early expeditions. Visitors can see Egyptian, Nubian and Classical objects such as painted vases, coins, scarabs and seals, shabti figures and pottery, as well as material from Meroë, the capital of an ancient Nubian kingdom. The museum also runs research and teaching projects, including work to trace and link related objects held in other institutions.

Highlights

• Egyptian antiquities from the Institute of Archaeology excavations
• Nubian objects, including material from Meroë
• Classical painted vases, coins, scarabs and shabti figures
• Free entry on Wednesdays and Thursdays
• Online 3D models of selected objects

Permanent exhibition

• Egyptian, Nubian and Classical collections – Objects excavated by John Garstang and his colleagues, including Egyptian and Nubian antiquities, Classical vases, coins, scarabs and seals, and shabti figures.

Founded

1904

Operated by

University of Liverpool

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum page gives no step-free access details; visitors who need information are advised to contact the museum before they visit.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the University of Liverpool campus; the university publishes general travel and parking information for campus visitors. The Victoria Gallery & Museum is a short walk away.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit