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
Pinned
*Advanced notice of closure dates* Please note that we will be closed for annual stocktaking 24/11/25-5/12/25. We will reopen to visitors on Tuesday 9th December. The RBA will also be closed 24/12/25-1/1/26 for Christmas and New Year. We will reopen on Friday 2nd January.
Remembrance Day brings with it reflections on wartime sacrifices. This poppy came to us with research papers on the First and Second World War memorials of East and West Hagbourne. The papers include both digital and printed records which are currently being catalogued.
November 11, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Remembrance Day brings with it reflections on wartime sacrifices. This poppy came to us with research papers on the First and Second World War memorials of East and West Hagbourne. The papers include both digital and printed records which are currently being catalogued.
Did you catch Simon, RBA Archivist, on BBC Radio Berkshire last week? He shared how Bonfire Night was marked throughout time in the county. Listen again at 01:16:35 here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... 📸 : Bonfire Night procession at St Patrick's Hall, University of Reading (1978).
November 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Did you catch Simon, RBA Archivist, on BBC Radio Berkshire last week? He shared how Bonfire Night was marked throughout time in the county. Listen again at 01:16:35 here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... 📸 : Bonfire Night procession at St Patrick's Hall, University of Reading (1978).
Last week in the searchroom a customer requested to view this beautiful painting of the interior of Bisham Abbey. We love the tiny details in this work, especially the little dog! 🐶
📷 D/EX73/4/1/1 #inthesearchroom
📷 D/EX73/4/1/1 #inthesearchroom
November 7, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Last week in the searchroom a customer requested to view this beautiful painting of the interior of Bisham Abbey. We love the tiny details in this work, especially the little dog! 🐶
📷 D/EX73/4/1/1 #inthesearchroom
📷 D/EX73/4/1/1 #inthesearchroom
The theme of this year's World Digital Preservation Day is 'Why Preserve?'. Here at RBA we believe that it is important to protect information on at risk media. 💾 💿 #WDPD2025
November 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The theme of this year's World Digital Preservation Day is 'Why Preserve?'. Here at RBA we believe that it is important to protect information on at risk media. 💾 💿 #WDPD2025
For those celebrating Bonfire Night, we hope your Guy Fawkes burn 'brilliantly' and your rockets make 'a lovely bang', just as described by Duncan Simonds in this letter. For more info about Bonfire Night celebrations in Berks, listen to archivist Simon on BBC Radio Berks at 11 this morning!
November 5, 2025 at 10:01 AM
For those celebrating Bonfire Night, we hope your Guy Fawkes burn 'brilliantly' and your rockets make 'a lovely bang', just as described by Duncan Simonds in this letter. For more info about Bonfire Night celebrations in Berks, listen to archivist Simon on BBC Radio Berks at 11 this morning!
We've had lots of new additions to our library recently with a particular focus on the brewing industry! Our reference library is mainly on open shelves in our searchroom and visitors are welcome to browse when they're here. 📚
November 4, 2025 at 10:22 AM
We've had lots of new additions to our library recently with a particular focus on the brewing industry! Our reference library is mainly on open shelves in our searchroom and visitors are welcome to browse when they're here. 📚
*Advanced notice of closure dates* Please note that we will be closed for annual stocktaking 24/11/25-5/12/25. We will reopen to visitors on Tuesday 9th December. The RBA will also be closed 24/12/25-1/1/26 for Christmas and New Year. We will reopen on Friday 2nd January.
November 3, 2025 at 11:01 AM
*Advanced notice of closure dates* Please note that we will be closed for annual stocktaking 24/11/25-5/12/25. We will reopen to visitors on Tuesday 9th December. The RBA will also be closed 24/12/25-1/1/26 for Christmas and New Year. We will reopen on Friday 2nd January.
Here's a behind the scenes look at how we created our spooky signatures, inspired by The Ghosts of My Friends! 👻 Godric is most pleased at the end 👀
Music: Let the Mystery Unfold by Geoff Harvey - Pixabay
#halloween #ghost
Music: Let the Mystery Unfold by Geoff Harvey - Pixabay
#halloween #ghost
October 31, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Here's a behind the scenes look at how we created our spooky signatures, inspired by The Ghosts of My Friends! 👻 Godric is most pleased at the end 👀
Music: Let the Mystery Unfold by Geoff Harvey - Pixabay
#halloween #ghost
Music: Let the Mystery Unfold by Geoff Harvey - Pixabay
#halloween #ghost
Happy Halloween! 👻 Inspired by the book The Ghosts of My Friends, we've created some spooky signatures of our own. Guess who we chose in the comments! #Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Happy Halloween! 👻 Inspired by the book The Ghosts of My Friends, we've created some spooky signatures of our own. Guess who we chose in the comments! #Halloween
Just an ordinary chest, covered in animal hair, sitting in the strongroom…or is it a mimic monster disguising itself and waiting to attack our brave unsuspecting staff? Enter the strongrooms, if you dare #RollForInitiative #DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #EYAMonster
October 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Just an ordinary chest, covered in animal hair, sitting in the strongroom…or is it a mimic monster disguising itself and waiting to attack our brave unsuspecting staff? Enter the strongrooms, if you dare #RollForInitiative #DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #EYAMonster
William joined us for his work experience last week. He was working on the minute books for the 1872 book club of the Reading Trinity Congregational Church. These reveal titles that were popular at the time such as biographies, religious texts, satire and much more!
October 29, 2025 at 11:03 AM
William joined us for his work experience last week. He was working on the minute books for the 1872 book club of the Reading Trinity Congregational Church. These reveal titles that were popular at the time such as biographies, religious texts, satire and much more!
Looking for a half term activity? Come and view our Jacksons display and Thames exhibition at the Royal Berkshire Archives, it's your last week to do so! Marvel at the Jacksons model and then learn about the Thames with free Thames themed colouring and activity sheets available.
October 28, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Looking for a half term activity? Come and view our Jacksons display and Thames exhibition at the Royal Berkshire Archives, it's your last week to do so! Marvel at the Jacksons model and then learn about the Thames with free Thames themed colouring and activity sheets available.
Its the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage today! Godric has been busy recently digitising some cassettes, this one is a 1974 pantomime of Sleeping Beauty from the Theatre Royal Windsor 👸 😴
October 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Its the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage today! Godric has been busy recently digitising some cassettes, this one is a 1974 pantomime of Sleeping Beauty from the Theatre Royal Windsor 👸 😴
Today is World Tripe Day! Who knew there was such a day? Here is a sale catalogue for 28 St Mary's Butts, Reading, business premises, 'including the Goodwill of the Business, established over 100 years, of W. Fossett, Tripe Dresser etc.', dated 1950.
October 24, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Today is World Tripe Day! Who knew there was such a day? Here is a sale catalogue for 28 St Mary's Butts, Reading, business premises, 'including the Goodwill of the Business, established over 100 years, of W. Fossett, Tripe Dresser etc.', dated 1950.
A member of our team attended the recent Archives & Records Association Conference in Bristol. Find out what this entailed - including meeting this robot! - in our behind the scenes blog: bit.ly/42znzG7 @araconference.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 10:03 AM
A member of our team attended the recent Archives & Records Association Conference in Bristol. Find out what this entailed - including meeting this robot! - in our behind the scenes blog: bit.ly/42znzG7 @araconference.bsky.social
Did you know we offer talks for groups as part of our service? Last week our new talk, 'Our River Thames' based on our current exhibition, was debuted to the Pangbourne Rotary Club. More details about booking talks can be found on our website: www.royalberkshirearchives.org.uk/our-services...
October 22, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Did you know we offer talks for groups as part of our service? Last week our new talk, 'Our River Thames' based on our current exhibition, was debuted to the Pangbourne Rotary Club. More details about booking talks can be found on our website: www.royalberkshirearchives.org.uk/our-services...
Did you spot this handbill in our Jacksons department store display? It promotes a special offer to give away a set of photos by local portrait photographer Walton Adams with every purchase of a suit. Find out more about it in our April 2023 highlight: bit.ly/3WAD1yc
October 21, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Did you spot this handbill in our Jacksons department store display? It promotes a special offer to give away a set of photos by local portrait photographer Walton Adams with every purchase of a suit. Find out more about it in our April 2023 highlight: bit.ly/3WAD1yc
Happy World Statistics Day! We collect lots of stats here at the RBA. Did you know, last year we produced 4269 documents for the public? We couldn't have done it without Production Assistant Nick! 💗 #statistics #worldstatisticsday
October 20, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Happy World Statistics Day! We collect lots of stats here at the RBA. Did you know, last year we produced 4269 documents for the public? We couldn't have done it without Production Assistant Nick! 💗 #statistics #worldstatisticsday
Please note that our online catalogue and related websites may not be accessible tomorrow (18/10/25) between 8am and 1pm. This is due to a scheduled electrical shutdown. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.
October 17, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Please note that our online catalogue and related websites may not be accessible tomorrow (18/10/25) between 8am and 1pm. This is due to a scheduled electrical shutdown. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.
We have a mystery we hope someone can solve! 🕵 Do you recognise this logo? If you do, please let us know in the comments below who this organisation were and where they were based. #mystery
October 16, 2025 at 9:15 AM
We have a mystery we hope someone can solve! 🕵 Do you recognise this logo? If you do, please let us know in the comments below who this organisation were and where they were based. #mystery
Reposted by Royal Berkshire Archives
Have you tried searching the census by address? It can be a great way to find out who used to live in your house - here's how to do it:
www.whodoyouthinkyouaremaga...
www.whodoyouthinkyouaremaga...
October 15, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Have you tried searching the census by address? It can be a great way to find out who used to live in your house - here's how to do it:
www.whodoyouthinkyouaremaga...
www.whodoyouthinkyouaremaga...
This month’s newly catalogued collections include a wide range of political papers including records of associations, individual election campaigns and social clubs. Discover what they reveal in our latest Just Catalogued blog: bit.ly/42BFUlS
October 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
This month’s newly catalogued collections include a wide range of political papers including records of associations, individual election campaigns and social clubs. Discover what they reveal in our latest Just Catalogued blog: bit.ly/42BFUlS
It is World Novel Week! 📖 Many novels go on to have a second life as an adapted play. Here is a programme from Theatre Royal, Windsor, dated 1961 for Go Back for Murder which is an adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1942 novel Five Little Pigs.
October 14, 2025 at 10:01 AM
It is World Novel Week! 📖 Many novels go on to have a second life as an adapted play. Here is a programme from Theatre Royal, Windsor, dated 1961 for Go Back for Murder which is an adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1942 novel Five Little Pigs.
In this month’s highlight we look at staff rules imposed by Edward Jackson, founder of Jacksons department store in Reading. This item can be found in our display on ‘The Family Store: Jacksons 150 years on’ in reception until 31st October. Read it here: bit.ly/4q8tqMA
October 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
In this month’s highlight we look at staff rules imposed by Edward Jackson, founder of Jacksons department store in Reading. This item can be found in our display on ‘The Family Store: Jacksons 150 years on’ in reception until 31st October. Read it here: bit.ly/4q8tqMA
❗ Advance notice of closure for Stocktake ❗
We will be closed from 24th November to 5th December 2025 inclusive for our annual stocktake.
So please do not visit during that time!
We will reopen at 9am on Tuesday 9th December 2025 (we do not open on Mondays or weekends).
We will be closed from 24th November to 5th December 2025 inclusive for our annual stocktake.
So please do not visit during that time!
We will reopen at 9am on Tuesday 9th December 2025 (we do not open on Mondays or weekends).
October 10, 2025 at 12:04 PM
❗ Advance notice of closure for Stocktake ❗
We will be closed from 24th November to 5th December 2025 inclusive for our annual stocktake.
So please do not visit during that time!
We will reopen at 9am on Tuesday 9th December 2025 (we do not open on Mondays or weekends).
We will be closed from 24th November to 5th December 2025 inclusive for our annual stocktake.
So please do not visit during that time!
We will reopen at 9am on Tuesday 9th December 2025 (we do not open on Mondays or weekends).