Museum of Antiquities

The Museum of Antiquities stood on the campus of Newcastle University in the north-east of England. It opened in 1960 after being set up by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham University. The museum traced the region’s past from early prehistory to the 17th century. Its displays focused on Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman era. One highlight was a full-scale reconstruction of a 3rd-century temple to the god Mithras found at Carrawburgh. A small shop selling university memorabilia sat inside the entrance. The collections were moved in 2008 to the newly renovated Hancock Museum nearby. A year later the Museum of Antiquities closed and its building was demolished in 2011–12. Before becoming a museum, the site had been a coke testing station built just after the Second World War. The merger created the Great North Museum, which now holds the combined holdings. The project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the museum was shortlisted for the Gulbenkian Prize in 2004. Visitors to the Great North Museum today can still see objects once displayed in the Antiquities Museum. The Hancock’s galleries cover Roman artefacts and Hadrian’s Wall finds. The Mithraic temple reconstruction is no longer on show, but other Roman sculptures and inscriptions remain. The Great North Museum also houses collections from the Shefton Museum. The modern building offers a wide view over the university campus and the city beyond.