Beneath one roof at last – treasures of the North

Dec 2 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Naturalist brothers' name lives on

THE name of the brothers who were the inspiration behind the Hancock Museum will be carried forward in the branding of its £26m replacement.

Newcastle naturalists John and Albany Hancock were instrumental in the building of the museum which carried their name and opened in 1884.

The Natural History Society of Northumbria owns the Hancock and its collections, and leased them to Newcastle University, with the attractions being managed by Tyne and Wear Museums.

The society’s annual report says that it was of special concern that the name Hancock should be retained when the Great North Museum opens.

Agreement has now been reached that the title Great North Museum: Hancock should be used when referring to the former Hancock building or events there.

The Hatton Gallery at Newcastle University is also part of the new venture and Great North Museum: Hatton will be employed for that venue.

Great North Museum will be used in national material as an over-arching brand.

Great North Museum project manager Steve McLean said: “The naming process was complex and involved a lot of research.”

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Full-size T Rex flies in

ONE of the star exhibits will be a full-size skeletal cast of the dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex.

It has been custom-built and is being shipped from Canada especially for the Great North Museum: Hancock.

The model is so big that it has to be one of the first items to go into the new museum and all of the displays will be built around it.

It will form part of the Fossil Stories gallery, where sound, touch and animation will bring to life a world that disappeared millions of years ago.