Tyne and Wear Archives

Our collections have outstanding collections in the fields of archives, art, science and technology, ethnography, archaeology, military and social history, maritime history and natural sciences. Our art, natural science, archives and science and industry collections have been awarded Designated status by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in recognition of their national importance.

We are based at the Discovery Museum but our collections are held around many of the north east's museums.

What are Archives?

Records are produced and kept by organisations and individuals in their day to day activities. When they themselves have no further use for them the archives service chooses those which are worth keeping for other reasons, including historical research, and these become archives. 

Learning at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) brings learning to life across 9 different venues, each with their own unique collections.  With amazing collections of archaeology, art, history and natural science, some of them of national and international importance, we have something to offer everyone.

TWAM’s skilled and enthusiastic Learning Team can support you and your students over the academic year. Our diverse collections are interpreted by a range of subject specialists, and our learning opportunities are designed to effectively meet the current needs of schools, by adapting to changes taking place in the education sector.

Our inspiring venues and collections are a powerful resource that are capable of enriching the learning of all ages and abilities, helping to make a positive difference to people’s lives.

In our work with children and young people we aim to:

• Support children and young people in their learning
• Make the most of the resources the museum offers
• Show that museums are valuable resources for learning for all audiences

We are committed to delivering high quality learning experiences through:

• Using collections and environments
• Developing inspiring experiences by exploiting our unique resources
• Delivering experiential, multi-sensory, interactive, and creative experiences

What do we do?

At Blandford House we have

• Storage areas with fire protection and monitored environmental conditions to make sure the records are physically safe for the future

• A public searchroom where you can do your own research

• Professional archivists who choose which records to preserve,  and catalogue them so that you can use them

• Experienced staff who can advise on using the records, including an outreach team who work with schools, other groups and lifelong learners

• Professional conservators who monitor the conditions the archives are kept in, provide specialist packaging, and repair any items which are already worn or damaged when they come into the archives

What area do we cover?

We hold archives covering the former Metropolitan County of Tyne and Wear (present-day Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland).

BFI Mediateque

The Archives is also home to the BFI Mediatheque, a digital jukebox of film and television titles from the BFI national archive, available free of charge.