Great North Museum: Hancock - Library & Archives

I hesitate to pen an article on this particular topic, on account that I am largely unfamiliar with the subject matter. For here we have a library & archive repository in Newcastle that I have never previously visited - which is amazing, really, as it specialises in local history. I am talking about the Great North Museum: Hancock's Library & Archive.

Much of what you can find here was once held on the upper floor of the Black Gate, when the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne was based there. That is the only other time I have previously browsed their holdings - and that was several decades ago. And what we have here is the combined collections of several institutions. I shall not tell you exactly what in order that you may be forced to visit their website. Believe me, if you're interested in history, archaeology, natural history - or pretty much anything to do with the region's past - then you should keep this place in mind during the course of your studies. And in addition to what you see on show, you can use the library catalogue to see if they've got something of interest hidden away behind the scenes.

It can be found on the 2nd floor, at the very rear of the Great North Museum: Hancock. It is quite an adventure trying to find the place, but you can just wander in without an appointment - but please note the limited opening hours. There is no membership scheme, but the actual borrowing of books is restricted to members of the participating bodies (Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, Natural History Society of Northumbria, and Newcastle University). Still, though, it really is quite something, and deserves to be more widely known and/or used.

So go and have a look next time you're at the Hancock.

The Tyne's Roman Shrines

If you ever find yourself wandering amidst the schoolkids at Newcastle's Hancock Museum, please be sure to check out the following collection of suitably coloured Roman altars that can be found in the Hadrian's Wall gallery:

(click on image to enlarge)

And have an especially close look at the left-hand pair, dedicated to the gods Neptune and Oceanus, as these are particularly significant:

You mustn't worry, though, for they haven't actually been daubed with modern-day masonry paint. And whilst you're standing there you may well wonder for some confused moments how the special effect has been, well, effected. It's all a trick of the light - see here for the official story. And the nearby info panel puts you in the picture, too:

As for the two altars to the left, well, they were dredged from the bed of the River Tyne in 1875 (Neptune) and 1903 (Oceanus), respectively, at the spot now occupied by the Swing Bridge. It was here that the old Roman Bridge of Pons Aelius spanned the river, and the altars would most probably have adorned the structure (or possibly formed the centre piece of a bridgehead shrine)  - and may even have been deliberately cast into the river at some point in an act of dedication. Neptune and Oceanus were, of course, water gods, and their placement upon or near the Roman bridge would be perfectly appropriate. 

Both stones bear a dedication to their respective god and the inscription "the Sixth Victorious Legion Loyal and Faithful (made this)". The 6th Legion was active in Britain from 122 AD to the end of the Roman occupation, so there's a good chance they were made at the time of Hadrian and the construction of his famous Wall.

Brilliant effort by the Hancock, this. It's the sort of thing that makes museums genuinely interesting!

The Victoria Tunnel: the Northern Section

Whilst investigating various rabbit-holes on YouTube recently, I came across an interesting video of a trip down the Victoria Tunnel which runs from Spital Tongues down to Ouse Street near the Tyne. But it wasn't about the southern section (which is, of course, open to the public), but instead concerned the northern section - a several hundred metre stretch that is not open to the public. How interesting!

Anyway, as far as I can make out, the chap in question begins the filming at the northern-most part of the tunnel near to Spital Tongues (and where there used to be a manholed entrance - now sealed). He then walks down under Claremont Road to the Hancock Museum entrance (and a little beyond). Fascinating stuff.

The link to the half-hour video can be found here. 

... And if you would like to go to the source of the chap's blog post, then visit here. You will also find a link to his tour of the southern section here, though it is essentially a ghost-hunting exercise (but still really interesting).

As for that northern section, there is also a short Newcastle Evening Chronicle piece, too, on the topic, which can be found here.

What a strange old piece of hidden Newcastle.