Royal Berkshire Archives
@berksarchives.bsky.social
The Royal Berkshire Archives holds the archives of the Royal County of Berkshire. We look after nearly nine hundred years of the County's history.
Website: royalberkshirearchives.org.uk
Website: royalberkshirearchives.org.uk
Its World Radio Day! 📻 What better way to celebrate than with this 1930s radio‑gramophone advert - an "exquisite entertainer" guaranteed to charm any room! 📷 D/EX1718/2/26/2
February 13, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Its World Radio Day! 📻 What better way to celebrate than with this 1930s radio‑gramophone advert - an "exquisite entertainer" guaranteed to charm any room! 📷 D/EX1718/2/26/2
It's National Embroidery month, to celebrate we wanted to re-share Archives Assistant Amber's favourite item, a piece of silver wire embroidery. Watch the video to learn more about the item and why she chose it.
February 11, 2026 at 11:24 AM
It's National Embroidery month, to celebrate we wanted to re-share Archives Assistant Amber's favourite item, a piece of silver wire embroidery. Watch the video to learn more about the item and why she chose it.
Reposted by Royal Berkshire Archives
The stories that made us. The decades that defined us 🗞️
Uncover the “good old days” as they really were in 100 million pages of history.
Delve deeper into our newspapers for FREE until 16 February.
➡️ https://bit.ly/4r2KB2a
Uncover the “good old days” as they really were in 100 million pages of history.
Delve deeper into our newspapers for FREE until 16 February.
➡️ https://bit.ly/4r2KB2a
February 9, 2026 at 7:20 AM
The stories that made us. The decades that defined us 🗞️
Uncover the “good old days” as they really were in 100 million pages of history.
Delve deeper into our newspapers for FREE until 16 February.
➡️ https://bit.ly/4r2KB2a
Uncover the “good old days” as they really were in 100 million pages of history.
Delve deeper into our newspapers for FREE until 16 February.
➡️ https://bit.ly/4r2KB2a
Have you had a chance to read our latest blog post? We sent out "A Surprising Window into the Past" with our February newsletter, read now to find out how a simple school logbook can show us how big events impacted small communities. bit.ly/4toqP2Y
February 9, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Have you had a chance to read our latest blog post? We sent out "A Surprising Window into the Past" with our February newsletter, read now to find out how a simple school logbook can show us how big events impacted small communities. bit.ly/4toqP2Y
We've got our bone skates and cold weather gear ready for the Winter Olympics! Anyone fancy joining us? 😆
#WinterOlympics #FridayFun
#WinterOlympics #FridayFun
February 6, 2026 at 10:42 AM
We've got our bone skates and cold weather gear ready for the Winter Olympics! Anyone fancy joining us? 😆
#WinterOlympics #FridayFun
#WinterOlympics #FridayFun
Reposted by Royal Berkshire Archives
On 14 Feb, join members of Reading Civic Society in the Garden Hall of Watlington House for their AGM, complete with a talk about Jacksons Department store from Thomas Macey. Thomas will bring a selection of original archives to view during and after the talk.
buff.ly/XyQK0mh
buff.ly/XyQK0mh
February 4, 2026 at 7:28 PM
On 14 Feb, join members of Reading Civic Society in the Garden Hall of Watlington House for their AGM, complete with a talk about Jacksons Department store from Thomas Macey. Thomas will bring a selection of original archives to view during and after the talk.
buff.ly/XyQK0mh
buff.ly/XyQK0mh
This month’s highlight takes the saying "take a pew" to a whole new level. Discover the story behind a 17th century pew dispute case in Warfield, and why it still matters today, here: bit.ly/4ayYtdN
February 4, 2026 at 11:14 AM
This month’s highlight takes the saying "take a pew" to a whole new level. Discover the story behind a 17th century pew dispute case in Warfield, and why it still matters today, here: bit.ly/4ayYtdN
It's National Hedgehog Day! 🦔 To celebrate, we found this lovely pamphlet advertising the Berkshire Tame Performing Hedgehog, named Jimmy. He could jump through small hoops and even had a set of bells to play at home. He was also particularly fond of string music! #hedgehog
February 2, 2026 at 10:27 AM
It's National Hedgehog Day! 🦔 To celebrate, we found this lovely pamphlet advertising the Berkshire Tame Performing Hedgehog, named Jimmy. He could jump through small hoops and even had a set of bells to play at home. He was also particularly fond of string music! #hedgehog
Today is National Puzzle Day! 🧩 To celebrate we spent some time piecing together this reversible jigsaw puzzle by Foster Brothers Clothing Company Ltd, Wokingham from c.1950s 📷 D/EX2694/1
January 29, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Today is National Puzzle Day! 🧩 To celebrate we spent some time piecing together this reversible jigsaw puzzle by Foster Brothers Clothing Company Ltd, Wokingham from c.1950s 📷 D/EX2694/1
Reposted by Royal Berkshire Archives
We've found this photo of the Woodley / Slough train but we're not sure of the year! Any ideas?
January 28, 2026 at 8:30 AM
We've found this photo of the Woodley / Slough train but we're not sure of the year! Any ideas?
Wonder what it's like to work in an archive? Wonder no more. One of our archive assistants has written a blog describing what a typical day at the RBA is like. Have a read to find out more:
A typical day in the life of an archives assistant | The Royal Berkshire Archives
Latest news
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January 28, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Wonder what it's like to work in an archive? Wonder no more. One of our archive assistants has written a blog describing what a typical day at the RBA is like. Have a read to find out more:
Is anyone taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch? T W Marshall did his own nature watch during the 1930s. His diaries and notes are housed here and contain a daily log about the weather and natural life he had seen. This includes many birds often accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations.
January 23, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Is anyone taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch? T W Marshall did his own nature watch during the 1930s. His diaries and notes are housed here and contain a daily log about the weather and natural life he had seen. This includes many birds often accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations.
We're throwing it back to 2016 looking through our office archives. Staff received disaster training, we held a Heritage Open Day event, received a visit from the Anhui Province Local History Compilation Committee Office, and displayed records in the 'Art Angel' installation at Reading prison!
January 21, 2026 at 10:47 AM
We're throwing it back to 2016 looking through our office archives. Staff received disaster training, we held a Heritage Open Day event, received a visit from the Anhui Province Local History Compilation Committee Office, and displayed records in the 'Art Angel' installation at Reading prison!
This month's highlight looks at advice given to new mothers in the 1960s. Have a read to see how things have changed (or stayed the same) over the years!
Welcome your new baby, 1960s style! | The Royal Berkshire Archives
Latest news
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January 20, 2026 at 12:02 PM
This month's highlight looks at advice given to new mothers in the 1960s. Have a read to see how things have changed (or stayed the same) over the years!
50 years ago today, Agatha Mallowan, better known as Agatha Christie, was buried in the graveyard at St Mary's, Cholsey. The register recording the burial is now held by us. This autumn we will be holding an exhibition celebrating this renowned author and local resident.
January 16, 2026 at 10:01 AM
50 years ago today, Agatha Mallowan, better known as Agatha Christie, was buried in the graveyard at St Mary's, Cholsey. The register recording the burial is now held by us. This autumn we will be holding an exhibition celebrating this renowned author and local resident.
Reposted by Royal Berkshire Archives
Do you recognise any of these views of Reading? They were taken from the top of a water tower in Mill Lane over 100 years ago and show landmarks still identifiable today.
📷 Photography by Mr Lewis taken c. 1900-1903
#FridayFinds
📷 Photography by Mr Lewis taken c. 1900-1903
#FridayFinds
January 16, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Do you recognise any of these views of Reading? They were taken from the top of a water tower in Mill Lane over 100 years ago and show landmarks still identifiable today.
📷 Photography by Mr Lewis taken c. 1900-1903
#FridayFinds
📷 Photography by Mr Lewis taken c. 1900-1903
#FridayFinds
Find out about newly catalogued items at the RBA in this month's Just Catalogued blog: bit.ly/3LDEp1c Then learn more about one of these collections, the papers of Muriel Longhurst, in a blog looking at the Big Freeze of 1963: bit.ly/3NpHx17
Blog single | The Royal Berkshire Archives
bit.ly
January 14, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Find out about newly catalogued items at the RBA in this month's Just Catalogued blog: bit.ly/3LDEp1c Then learn more about one of these collections, the papers of Muriel Longhurst, in a blog looking at the Big Freeze of 1963: bit.ly/3NpHx17
Reposted by Royal Berkshire Archives
'The Berkshire Boy' by Eliza Turck
Eliza Turck worked as a painter, miniaturist and illustrator at a time when it could be difficult to work as a female artist. Her paintings were accepted for exhibition at the Royal Academy from 1854 and she continued to exhibit for many years.
Eliza Turck worked as a painter, miniaturist and illustrator at a time when it could be difficult to work as a female artist. Her paintings were accepted for exhibition at the Royal Academy from 1854 and she continued to exhibit for many years.
January 14, 2026 at 8:32 AM
'The Berkshire Boy' by Eliza Turck
Eliza Turck worked as a painter, miniaturist and illustrator at a time when it could be difficult to work as a female artist. Her paintings were accepted for exhibition at the Royal Academy from 1854 and she continued to exhibit for many years.
Eliza Turck worked as a painter, miniaturist and illustrator at a time when it could be difficult to work as a female artist. Her paintings were accepted for exhibition at the Royal Academy from 1854 and she continued to exhibit for many years.
We hope everyone has had a relaxing festive period, and with that lots of time in your home with loved ones. Have you looked around the house and wondered how old your house might be, or who else made it a home before you? These are questions we might be able to answer! 🧵
January 13, 2026 at 1:59 PM
We hope everyone has had a relaxing festive period, and with that lots of time in your home with loved ones. Have you looked around the house and wondered how old your house might be, or who else made it a home before you? These are questions we might be able to answer! 🧵
Hello 👋 We've had lots of new followers recently and so we thought we had better reintroduce ourselves! We are the Royal Berkshire Archives and we care for nearly nine hundred years of the County's history! Stick around for posts featuring some of our records and to see our mascot Godric having fun!
January 12, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Hello 👋 We've had lots of new followers recently and so we thought we had better reintroduce ourselves! We are the Royal Berkshire Archives and we care for nearly nine hundred years of the County's history! Stick around for posts featuring some of our records and to see our mascot Godric having fun!
During our stock-take period, we got the opportunity to visit the St George's Chapel Archives at Windsor Castle, as well as Berkshire Yeomanry Museum! We want to thank our kind archival colleagues for showing us around and getting out lots of interesting records for us to see.
January 9, 2026 at 10:30 AM
During our stock-take period, we got the opportunity to visit the St George's Chapel Archives at Windsor Castle, as well as Berkshire Yeomanry Museum! We want to thank our kind archival colleagues for showing us around and getting out lots of interesting records for us to see.
Reposted by Royal Berkshire Archives
Welcome to our new followers!
Looking for historical inspiration (or distraction)? 150 UK galleries, libraries, archives & museums - all active on Bluesky - are highlighted in this new pack.
Excellent and diverse collections, info about online events, heritage snark and more.
go.bsky.app/Ms7endH
Looking for historical inspiration (or distraction)? 150 UK galleries, libraries, archives & museums - all active on Bluesky - are highlighted in this new pack.
Excellent and diverse collections, info about online events, heritage snark and more.
go.bsky.app/Ms7endH
January 8, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Welcome to our new followers!
Looking for historical inspiration (or distraction)? 150 UK galleries, libraries, archives & museums - all active on Bluesky - are highlighted in this new pack.
Excellent and diverse collections, info about online events, heritage snark and more.
go.bsky.app/Ms7endH
Looking for historical inspiration (or distraction)? 150 UK galleries, libraries, archives & museums - all active on Bluesky - are highlighted in this new pack.
Excellent and diverse collections, info about online events, heritage snark and more.
go.bsky.app/Ms7endH
The second in the series of blogs by students from the University of Reading is live. It's about the Winter Cheese recipe from the Hunter Cookbook: www.royalberkshirearchives.org.uk/blog/homemad...
Sign up to our monthly bulletin to have our new blogs sent directly to your inbox: bit.ly/3zGsWUp
Sign up to our monthly bulletin to have our new blogs sent directly to your inbox: bit.ly/3zGsWUp
Blog single | The Royal Berkshire Archives
www.royalberkshirearchives.org.uk
January 7, 2026 at 10:15 AM
The second in the series of blogs by students from the University of Reading is live. It's about the Winter Cheese recipe from the Hunter Cookbook: www.royalberkshirearchives.org.uk/blog/homemad...
Sign up to our monthly bulletin to have our new blogs sent directly to your inbox: bit.ly/3zGsWUp
Sign up to our monthly bulletin to have our new blogs sent directly to your inbox: bit.ly/3zGsWUp
Snow day at the RBA! ☃️ It's Godric's first snow, so he had to get outside and see what all the fuss is about ❄️
January 6, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Snow day at the RBA! ☃️ It's Godric's first snow, so he had to get outside and see what all the fuss is about ❄️
We are open! 🥳
We re-opened on Friday 2 January, so if there's anything you've been wanting to research over the festive period, please do book a visit 😊
We re-opened on Friday 2 January, so if there's anything you've been wanting to research over the festive period, please do book a visit 😊
January 5, 2026 at 10:30 AM
We are open! 🥳
We re-opened on Friday 2 January, so if there's anything you've been wanting to research over the festive period, please do book a visit 😊
We re-opened on Friday 2 January, so if there's anything you've been wanting to research over the festive period, please do book a visit 😊