Yorkshire Museum - Lee Bell Photography

The Yorkshire Museum, famous for being home to some of Britain’s greatest treasures, reopened its doors on Sunday after its interior was transformed with a major two million pound refurbishment. 

The new look museum uses York's Roman heritage as a central theme, with major exhibitions such as the medieval and natural history highlighting its strong Roman legacy.

The most complete Anglo Saxon helmet ever found in Britain, the exquisite Middleham Jewel, the most significant Viking Hoard to be found in 150 years and one of Britain’s biggest Ichthyosaurs are just some of the treasures on show.

Head curator at the Museum, Andrew Morrison, said: “This refurbishment will once again transform the Yorkshire Museum into one of the country’s greatest museums. It is a beautiful building that is home to some of the most significant archaeological finds and scientific collections in Europe. 

“This project was vital to restore the galleries to their former glory. In doing so we believe we have created a museum that shows off its proud heritage while at the same time being a place that will inspire and delight the 21st Century visitor.” 

The project, which saw the museum close in November 2009, has resulted in many of the rather modern interior walls removed to create a much more open and welcoming space. The visitor, upon entry, will see the main hall, and will be greeted by the Museum’s statue of the Roman God of War, Mars. The hall also contains a huge map of the Roman Empire.

The rest of the museum is split into three exhibitions: 

Roman York - to meet the people of the classical empire. 

Medieval York - the power and the glory of the bustling period. 

Extinct - discover why so many species have disappeared through time.

As well as these, there are also two other new areas: the History of York and the Learning Level. In the latter, hands-on activities, workshops, meeting the experts and displays will be available for visitors to delve deeper into the past.

York Museums Trust secured £200,000 of funding from the DCMS/Wolfson Foundation, £315,000 from Renaissance in the Regions, £300,000 from the Monument Trust, £200,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation, £75,000 from the Foyle Foundation and other donations from the University of York, Feoffees of St Michael’s Spurriergate, Museums, Libraries and Archives PRISM Fund, the William Reed Trust, the Yorkshire Philosophical Foundation and the York Museums Trust Development Group. 

A further £850,000 was granted by The City of York Council as match funding.