EASTER holiday activities will be held across four historical Northumberland sites.
Museums Northumberland unveiled events at Hexham Old Gaol, Berwick Museum and Art Gallery, Woodhorn Museum and Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum.
Hexham Old Gaol will reopen on Saturday, April 1, which holds the title of being England’s earliest purpose-built prison.
Families can learn about crime and punishment throughout Northumberland’s history, explore the history of the Border Reivers, and see a display of helmets on loan from The Royal Armouries.
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From April 4 to 6 and April 11 to 13, Woodhorn Museum will deliver the interactive workshops Bugs n Stuff.
Led by wildlife expert Guy Tansley, each workshop offers the chance to get close to creatures including praying mantis, giant tarantulas, insects, frogs, lizards and beetles.
These tickets are free but must be booked in advance.
Families can join free daily Woodhorn Wildflowers craft sessions, from April 1 to April 16, and the Easter Bunny will make a special appearance from April 7 to April 10.
At Berwick Museum and Art Gallery, which reopens on April 1, visitors can explore a new display about the Ord Cross, a piece of Anglo-Saxon jewellery first discovered on the banks of the River Tweed in 2019.
On April 5 and April 13, design an Anglo-Saxon-inspired broach or mould an Ord Cross out of clay on April 6 and April 12.
Professor John Hines from Cardiff University will deliver a lecture on Monday, April 3 at Berwick Guild Hall about the origins of the Ord Cross.
Visitors to Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum can learn about the county’s dedicated musical instrument, the Northumberland Pipes.
With more than 120 sets of pipes in the collection, Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum also houses the Northern Poetry Library and Craft Centre.
Rowan Brown, chief executive of Museums Northumberland, said: “Easter sees all four of our museum sites open to the public once again following the winter break, so this is always an exciting time of year.
“Whether you’re looking to explore the natural world, enjoy artwork from some of the world’s greatest painters, or learn more about Northumberland’s long and fascinating history, you can do it all at Museums Northumberland.
“Each museum offers something different, so if you’ve not visited one of our sites before, now is the perfect time to discover some of the truly unique stories about our special county.”
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