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South Shields Museum and Art Gallery
Provider Location
Details
Ocean Road
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE33 2JA
Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk...
Telephone: 01914568740
Fax: 01914567850
Special Needs provision: Unknown
The venue has disabled toilets. There is ramped access for wheelchairs to the shop, and a lift to the galleries and museum. The nearest parking is behind the museum (public car park).
For hearing impaired there is an induction loop system.
The building now occupied by South Shields Museum & Art Gallery was built in 1859/60 for the South Shields Mechanics Institute. Sir Robert Ingham, Member of Parliament for South Shields and President of the local Mechanics Institution, laid its foundation stone in 1859. Built at a cost of £2,700 the Institute was opened the following year. By 1870, however, escalating costs forced members to look for somebody else to take the building on.
In 1871 the building was offered to the Borough Corporation for use as its Free Library. When the Central Library moved to its current location, the building became South Shields main public museum and art gallery.
Activities
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A Park for the People Exhibition
Discover more about the rich history of South Marine Park in South Shields. For over 100 years it has been a great place to meet, relax and enjoy for local people and visitors alike.
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Creature Corner
Get up close to spiders and snakes in Creature Corner. Some of South Shields Museum's new residents include Mick the Burmese Python, a Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantula and a bearded dragon.
All of the creatures have been rescued or bred in captivity and were former residents of the Hancock Museum in Newcastle which is currently closed while it undergoes a massive refurbishment.