The £49 million refurbishment of The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Oxford started last month, designed by Rick Mather Architects.

The existing 19th century extension to the original Grade I listed building is set to be demolished and replaced with a new exhibition hall to double the amount of available display space.

The hall will house 39 new galleries displaying collections previously kept in storage, which will be presented to visitors using a periodic storyline. New environmental controls will also allow rare and fragile items to be exhibited.

The new galleries will include the Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology Gallery, Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Gallery, Chinese Galleries and Greek Galleries.

During the Ashmolean’s redevelopment, the Museum remains open to the public and groups can see most of the Western Art galleries, the Print Room and the Egyptian galleries.

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