Great North Museum: Hancock

Major new gallery opened in 2009 highlighting the construction and operation of Hadrian’s Wall and the numerous sites along it. The story of the Wall is explored through the museum’s wall-wide and world-class collections, especially sculpture and inscriptions and the insights they give into the people who lived along it. The displays feature a scale model of the Wall running the full length of the gallery with interactive computer hotspots providing information about different sites. You can explore the individual stories of people from across the Empire who made Hadrian’s Wall their home, their names and careers revealed through inscriptions on altars and other sculpture.


The Great North Museum is home to many other major displays showing the wonder and diversity of the animal and plant kingdoms, spectacular objects from the Ancient Greeks and mummies from Ancient Egypt, a planetarium and a life-size T-Rex dinosaur skeleton and much more. Hundreds of thousands of visitors have enjoyed this award winning family friendly museum that provides an introduction to Hadrian’s Wall and to the landscapes and wildlife of Northumberland.


The museum is managed by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. There is a coffee shop and bookshop.