Great North Museum: Hancock

Over het museum

The museum traces its roots to the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne, founded in 1793, whose growing natural history collection led to the separate Natural History Society of Northumbria in 1829. In 1834 the collection moved to premises behind the Lit and Phil and became the Newcastle Museum, the first museum in the region to welcome the public free of charge.

The naturalist and taxidermist John Hancock, with his brother Albany, drove the building of a new purpose-built museum at Barras Bridge, which opened in 1884. After John Hancock's death in 1890 it was renamed the Hancock Museum. In the 1960s King's College, now Newcastle University, took over its management and brought in the collections of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Shefton Collection of Greek and Etruscan objects.

The museum closed in 2006 for a redevelopment costing £26 million and reopened in 2009 as the Great North Museum: Hancock. It now combines natural history, archaeology, ancient civilisations and world cultures, and has a public library on the second floor. It is managed by North East Museums on behalf of Newcastle University.

Hoogtepunten

• Full-size T. rex skeleton in the Fossil Stories gallery
• Hadrian's Wall gallery with Roman inscriptions and altars
• Living Planet gallery with a full-size elephant and a great white shark
• Ancient Egypt gallery with objects from the British Museum
• Planetarium with daily shows
• Free entry

Vaste collectie

• Fossil Stories – A gallery with a full-size T. rex skeleton and real fossils.
• Hadrian's Wall – A gallery on the Roman frontier, including an inscription stone showing that the Wall was built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian.
• Living Planet – Double-height displays of wildlife from around the world, with a full-size elephant and a great white shark.

Opgericht

1884

Beheerder

North East Museums

Bezoekers per jaar

ca. 638.454

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Entry is free and donations are welcome. Planetarium tickets are bought on the day at the museum shop, with discounts for groups of four to six. Children aged 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the planetarium. Children aged 11 and under can travel free on the Metro with a fare-paying adult.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Step-free access to the main entrance is by a ramp on the left side of the building or by an external platform lift on the right, and the front stairs are the stepped route. Lifts with voice announcers and Braille indicators serve all floors, and stairs have tactile indicators and contrasting edges. Accessible toilets are on the ground, first and second floors; the nearest Changing Places toilet is in the Daysh Building on the Newcastle University campus and needs a radar key. One wheelchair can be borrowed. There are four Blue Badge bays at the front right corner of the museum, and drop-off is possible at the front entrance. Assistance dogs and guide dogs are welcome. An induction loop is fitted in the planetarium. Videos with narration are subtitled and have British Sign Language. Large-print maps, ear defenders, magnifying sheets, torches, coloured reading rulers, sensory bags and loanable stools are available at the front desk. Relaxed, autism-friendly openings are held in school holidays, and a visual story is available.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek
• Kinderfeestjes

The Mouse House is a play and learning space for the youngest visitors, and the Gallery Spinner Challenge uses six interactive displays to help children aged 6 to 11 explore the galleries. Trails, a downloadable Museum Bingo game and storytime sessions for under-fives are offered, and family events run in school holidays. Baby changing is available on the ground and first floors, there is a buggy park, breastfeeding is welcome throughout and a private breastfeeding area is in the World Cultures gallery.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is on Barras Bridge on Newcastle University campus, just outside the Newcastle Clean Air Zone. There is space for at least 10 bicycles outside the main entrance.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes

The Hancock Café on level one serves hot and cold drinks, light bites and children's lunchboxes; food is served until 15:00 on weekdays and 14:30 at weekends. Eating and drinking in the galleries is not allowed. A packed lunch space is provided in school holidays, and visitors can picnic on the front lawn. The museum shop sells gifts and books. Lockers cost £1 and are not refunded, and there is a buggy park. There is a free library on the second floor.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 450 personen.

Spaces include the Exhibition Space, which can hold up to 450 guests, the Clore Suite with its own garden, and the Living Planet Gallery for receptions and dinners. Children's birthday parties can be held in the Clore Suite at weekends and in school holidays, and the planetarium can be hired exclusively.

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