A little bit of history... (Hancock Museum (Newcastle))

Member Name: juicy_lucy

Product:	Hancock Museum (Newcastle)
Date:	18/02/06 (478 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Huge selection of birds and animals

Disadvantages: Awful if you hate stuffed animals

**A Little bit of History**

The museum in its present site was opened in1884 and is as such quite a "monument" in Newcastle.
The museum first started in 1780s when Marmaduke Tunstall started to collect natural history material from all over the world, and when he died, his collection was bought by George Allan of Darlington, in 1791.
The collections were soon too extensive for the building and the new museum was opened on its present site in 1884, and when the well known naturalist John Hancock died in 1890, the museum was named after him.

**Where is it**

The museum is located in the city centre, between Barras Bridge and Claremont Road and is close to the university, and Eldon Square shopping center, as well as Northumberland- right at the heart of things.

To get there by car, take the A167 Central Motorway and follow the AA signs for the museum.

By far the easiest way is to get the Metro to Haymarket, which is what we did, having parked the car at Jesmond ant then it's one short stop away.



**What's At the Museum?**

Land of the Pharoahs:
History Study Unit 6. Key Stage 2, Art Key Stage 1-3.
There is a permanent Egyptian display illustrating life and death in Egyptian times, and there are even two Egyptian mummies, which always fascinates children. The display looks at every day life in Ancient Egypt, and features interactive activities including build your own pyramid and create an Egyptian pattern. Children can even put a penny into a machine and make it into an "Egyptian" coin. When I have taken children to the museum, they are fascinated by the embalmer's tent, with a model of a dead person lying on a bed, being embalmed; this proved too much for little lady when we visited the other day, and she proclaimed it to be something she "didn't want to look at…" Although she didn't quite understand what it was, she was quite impressed with the 2500 year old mummy, Irt, irw. This mummy does tend to be the star attraction with children and especially as they can visualize what she would have been like when alive because there is a description, and also computer information about her reconstruction.

Living Planet:
Science Key Stages 1-3. Life and Living Processes
This area is downstairs and shows us in a scientific way, many of the species on earth, how they have evolved and how we are altering and often damaging the balance of nature. Little miss was most interested in the dodo; she knew that they were extinct, so coming "face to face" with one was quite exciting for her. The area I find most impressive and haunting is the tombstones with doors which open to show inside models of extinct animals and birds. Quite disturbing when you face the fact that these will never be seen again. The area charts everything from the water cycle to habitats, adaptation to food chains, and will even let you find out how environmentally friendly you are.

Magic of Birds:
Science Key Stages 1-3. Life and Living Processes
This is on a mezzanine level and then ground floor- at least that's how it feels but there are lots of complex turns and when faced with this number of stuffed birds you are forgiven for losing your way and feeling a bit disorientated. It's a huge collection of birds, showing breeding, migration and bird folklore. There are "teeny tiny" hummingbirds. A huge skeleton of the now extinct Moa and two emus. It is certainly impressive and on the upper level, there is a selection of almost every bird from the British Isles.

Earthworks:
Science Key Stages 1-3. Life and Living Processes, Materials and Properties.
On the ground floor, find out how the earth began by traveling back nearly 5 billion years- you even feel as though you are going back in time as you go through a twinkly tunnel. I have taken classes of children to this area to study subjects such as fossils, the evolution of life, rocks and crystals. All of the information is accompanied by interactive displays and pc activities, all child friendly, informative and educational.

Abel's Ark
Science Key Stages 1-3. Life and Living Processes
This area is downstairs, and usually the first area I visit when I go to the museum. It is a long corridor and behind the glass partition is an ark but it's not Noah's ark, it belongs to Abel, and there he is, sitting in a chair, reading his book. Abel was a big game hunter in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who also set up National Parks. We had great fun spotting the animals- bears, zebra, giraffe, gnu, bison- too many to list. A warning though- if you don't like stuffed animals, don't go.

Live animals
Science Key Stages 1-3. Life and Living Processes
There are lots of live animals dotted around the museum-giant snails, spiders, turtles, snakes and fish (even a clown fish- Nemo).

A World of Difference:
Art Key Stages 1-3. History Key Stage 2

This area displays artefacts from changing and extinct cultures including a brick from the Great wall of China, and includes clothing, utensils, musical instruments and weapons. This is one of two areas I haven't really explored at length because I usually go with children and this seems to be too staid for them. The other area I haven't spent a lot of time in is …

The Bewick shrine
History Key Stage 2. Art Key Stage 1-3
A display of prints and original materials from the famous Northern artist.

Ancient Greece:
History Key Stage 2
Similar to the Ancient Egypt display, this includes artefacts and imparts lots of information. Book in advance and there is the opportunity to have an Ancient Greek person visit your class dressed as an Ancient Greek, ready to act out some aspect of life and answer questions.

The Den
Activity area for young children which is split into two zones which focus on the seashore and the jungle. There are some live animals, toys and games. We just walked past this and when asked, little miss decided she didn't want to go in- there are far more interesting things to do in the museum, and when children have been expose

**OTHER INFORMATION**

I have been on several occasions with classes of children, from both Key Stage 1 and 2. There is a lecture room which can be booked, and if going with a group, it's well worth doing this, so that you have somewhere to leave bags and coats, and most importantly, to eat your lunch. It's a large room and after lunch can actually be used to "do" a lesson, fitted as it is with audio visual equipment.
Order educational packs which are well worth having, and even if going round the museum with your own child(ren), they will enjoy actually finding the things suggested in the packs.
The Hancock Museum has lecture and conference room which can be hired at various costs for meetings, seminars and evening functions.
Toilets are located on the ground floor at each side of the foyer- clean and functional with a toilet for disabled people.
Shop is at the foyer selling the usual museum "stuff"- we had to get a dinosaur and this tube which makes a noise when moved
Disabled access to the museum is via a very narrow ramp at the side of the stairs

**Entrance and opening times**

Open…Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm
Price…£3.95 adults, £1.95 child, under 4s free. It does say that entry is free but I have never tried this. I think the entrance fee is actually for the special exhibitions

**Address and contact**

Barras Bridge
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4PT

Tel: 0191 2226765
Fax: 0191 2226753

**Verdict**

As I have said, I have been many times with classes of children, hence the putting down of National Curriculum links such as I have used them, in case anyone is interested. If going with a group of children, I would suggest you take a look round before because there is no guide. I always buy the specific educational packs and go beforehand with little lady, hence the latest visit on Sunday.
The exhibitions are constantly changing; the most popular seemed to be the mini beasts and the dinosaurs. The Egyptian exhibition at the moment has more to offer older children and adults, although the lady at the desk assured me that sometimes there are ancient Egyptians walking around to bring it to life. There were some interactive activities, such as weighing a heart against a feather but all in all it is for adults.
However, the museum itself is fascinating for children. Turn the first corner and you can listen to tapes of the singing budgie and marvel at the animals in Abel's ark.
Walk up the huge sweeping stone stairs and on the way up. Children will be naming the animals painted on the walls, and then they notice the huge whale near the ceiling.
We spent ages looking at a snake in a big glass cage and I can honestly say that I have never seen such an active snake.
There are butterflies and mini beasts from all over the world- dead and pinned to boards but quite fascinating if you can get over the fact that it is a tad gross.
The bird exhibition is amazing, and children and adults alike tend to be amazed by the number of birds, and the sizes of the eggs…some so tiny and some huge.
There are lots of interactive activities for children to get involved in and room for lots of further discussion; if you want children to gain an insight and an interest in the natural world it's a fantastic starting place.
I found the temperatures on each planet fascinating- they show the range of temperatures and allow the arrow to be moved within this range, so you gain an understanding of how Mars is the only other planet which could possibly sustain a life form such as ours.

Enough of that… I think the museum is a real experience, with or without the exhibitions, and is well worth the entrance fee.

The only down side is that it is closing at the end of April for refurbishment- for three years. They do believe it will take nearly a year to get everything out!

When it reopens it won't be called the Hancock museum which I think is a shame, but ever onwards, we can't stop "progress"

Thanks for reading.

Daniela x

Summary: An excellent museum with lots of interactive activities