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| Ashmolean Museum opens to public | Ashmolean Museum opens to public |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The UK's oldest public museum has reopened after a £61m redevelopment. | |
| The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, in Oxford, which first opened in the 17th Century, was renovated to double the gallery space. | The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, in Oxford, which first opened in the 17th Century, was renovated to double the gallery space. |
| The new building, designed by architect Rick Mather, replaces all but the Grade I-listed Cockerell building and was officially reopened at 1000 GMT. | |
| Exhibits include the lamp carried by Guy Fawkes during the Gunpowder Plot and the Alfred Jewel. | |
| A spokeswoman said "hundreds" of people walked through the doors to the museum which has extended its opening hours for the day until 2200 GMT. | |
| The first official visitors to enter the new-look building was a couple from Montreal, Canada, who had heard about the reopening in the International Herald Tribune. | |
| Aficionado of antiquities | Aficionado of antiquities |
| The renovation features 39 new galleries, including four temporary exhibition galleries, a new education centre, conservation studios and a rooftop restaurant. | The renovation features 39 new galleries, including four temporary exhibition galleries, a new education centre, conservation studios and a rooftop restaurant. |
| It has been funded with a £15m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. | It has been funded with a £15m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. |
| The Ashmolean redevelopment cost £61m In pictures: New Ashmolean Museum | The Ashmolean redevelopment cost £61m In pictures: New Ashmolean Museum |
| Nicholas Barber, chairman of the Ashmolean, said: "Renowned for our collections, the Ashmolean has always held a strong position on the cultural map. | Nicholas Barber, chairman of the Ashmolean, said: "Renowned for our collections, the Ashmolean has always held a strong position on the cultural map. |
| "But now, with a magnificent new building and inspiring displays, the museum has been transformed into one of the world's great cultural jewels." | "But now, with a magnificent new building and inspiring displays, the museum has been transformed into one of the world's great cultural jewels." |
| The museum is named after Elias Ashmole, an aficionado of antiquities who studied at the University of Oxford while posted to the military. | The museum is named after Elias Ashmole, an aficionado of antiquities who studied at the University of Oxford while posted to the military. |
| Museum director Christopher Brown said: "From the outset, our ambition has been to create not just an improved and expanded version of Britain's oldest public museum, but something significantly different in kind: A new way of showcasing the Ashmolean's remarkable collections, for the benefit of the widest possible audience." | Museum director Christopher Brown said: "From the outset, our ambition has been to create not just an improved and expanded version of Britain's oldest public museum, but something significantly different in kind: A new way of showcasing the Ashmolean's remarkable collections, for the benefit of the widest possible audience." |