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Museum of Archaeology
A woman examining an exhibit in the Museum of Archaeology

Reopening the first floor of the Museum of Archaeology

We’re excited to reopen the upstairs gallery at the Museum of Archaeology with a new permanent exhibition exploring the history of Durham and its people.

This marks the first stage of the gallery reopening, with the full redevelopment due for completion in July 2027. The exhibition has been made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This first stage explores objects spanning over 1,000 years of history, from the Early Medieval to the Post Medieval period. It has been co-curated with MA Museum and Artefact Studies students at Durham University, who spent nine months working closely with curators to uncover and share new stories from the collection.

Highlights of the Exhibition

  1. Anglo-Saxon Craftsmanship: Exceptional metalworking is represented by a silver, gold and garnet sword mount and a rare lead bucket, showcasing the skill and artistry of early medieval craftspeople.
  2. The Prisoners at Palace Green: The story of the Scottish soldiers imprisoned at Durham Cathedral in 1650.
  3. Pilgrim Ampulla: A lead ampulla that once held holy water or oil, a popular medieval souvenir for pilgrims visiting St Cuthbert’s shrine at Durham Cathedral.
  4. A Dish with a Story: Found at the home of Durham merchant and mayor John Duck, this object is linked to one of the city’s most famous tales of wealth, luck, and social mobility.
  5. Lead Toy Horse: A 17th–18th century toy found in the River Wear, with parallels found as far away as Jamestown in the British colonies.

The exhibition features interactive games and hands-on activities for all, alongside a community wall showcasing local archaeology and art. Alongside the physical displays, an online exhibition and digital gallery trail offer additional ways to explore the collection.

The community wall has been shaped by consultation and engagement with local groups and visitors, reflecting a wide range of perspectives on Durham’s past and present.

We run a regular programme of events and activities, inviting visitors to dig deeper into the archaeology of Durham beyond our walls!

Group of young people

The MA Museum and Artefact Studies students who have co-curated this gallery

A coloured photograph showing a brown ceramic dish which has been divided into two parts dish which has been reconstructed, there is also yellow decoration along the edge.

Reconstructed Post-Medieval Divided Dish A reconstructed post-medieval divided dish, found in Sir John Duck’s House

A silver Anglo-Saxon pyramid mount, inlaid with a single garnet and with gold decoration on white background.

A silver Anglo-Saxon Pyramid Mount, inlaid with a single garnet and with gold decoration.

An antique lead toy horse

A 17th–18th century toy horse found in the River Wear