Museum of Antiquities

The Museum of Antiquities was an archaeological collection at Newcastle University displaying objects from early prehistory through the 17th century. Its holdings featured extensive exhibits on regional archaeology and Roman artifacts from northern England.

The museum was founded in 1960 through collaboration between the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham University. It closed in 2008 and its collections were transferred to the Great North Museum: Hancock.

The institution maintained a full-scale reconstruction of the third-century Mithras temple from Carrawburgh, presenting religious practices from Roman Britain.

The collections are now displayed at the Great North Museum: Hancock, where the archaeological exhibits are shown alongside other holdings. Visitors can find all original objects and preserved exhibits from the former institution there.

Before its demolition in 2012, the institution occupied a building complex that originally functioned as a coke testing facility following World War II. This represented an unusual conversion of an industrial site into an educational space.

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Inception: 1960

Address: The University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU

Website: http://museums.ncl.ac.uk

GPS coordinates: 54.97930,-1.61530

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:00