Burrell at Berwick

A changing display of the finest items donated to the town by Glasgow shipping millionaire Sir William Burrell. Paintings by masters such as Boudin and Degas are shown alongside a comprehensive display of Oriental porcelain and historic glass.

Berwick was a battleground in the Middle Ages. This gallery looks at this violent period with plenty of weaponry and a fine reconstruction of Berwick Castle.

Take a walk around the ramparts of the old historic town of Berwick, looking and listening to the sights and sounds of the past.

Appointments for visits outside the times and dates above can be made by contacting 01434 652349

Free Entry:

Museum Association Members; Blue/Green Badge Guides; Tourist Information Centre Staff; Carers; Teachers making pre-visit; Teachers and Adults accompanying an educational group.

Four floors are packed with information which really brings this history to life:

• Delve into the dark history of the Old Gaol, the Shire and the Borders
• Enjoy an unforgettable learning experience
• Find out about the terrifying Border Reiver raids and the tragic consequences
• Watch the special “Reiver Raid” film made exclusively for the Old Gaol
• Discover the area’s history and explore the buildings the Borderers lived in

The Old Gaol displays cover the history of the earliest recorded purpose-built gaol in England, looking at medieval crimes and punishments. Hexham’s original town stocks can be seen. Outside the Gaol are replica stocks and a pillory.

The Gaol was also used to keep Border Reivers locked up in the 1500s, and some of the prisoners and the Reivers way of life are explored. There is a film of a Border raid, and you can meet a family, the Gaoler, a Deputy Warden, and Sir Robert Carey, Middle March Warden and cousin of Queen Elizabeth I. You can see if you have Reiver ancestors sharing your Surname, and find out where they lived.

Room hire, guided tours with costumed guide, education workshops and visits are available – further information can be found by visiting - http://www.experiencewoodhorn.com/hexham-old-gaol/ or contacting Janet Goodridge for initial enquries

Open Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5pm Closed Sundays

FREE admission

The Bagpipe Museum is housed in the delightful medieval Chantry buildings next to the River Wansbeck. It is home to a unique collection of 150 sets of pipes, including the remarkable bagpipe collection of William Alfred Cocks (1892 - 1971), a clockmaker from Ryton, near Newcastle.

• Discover the traditional Northumbrian pipes with their delicate chant
• See how they compare to the Highland and Irish Bagpipes
• Find out how they are made and how pipes have developed over the centuries
• Understand the difference between pipes with bellows and mouth pieces
• Learn about aficionado, expert and collector, W A Cocks
• Move and play Cantaria – a special light and sound feature