Reading Museum
@readingmuseum.bsky.social
Posts from Reading Museum. We share stories from the history of the town of Reading, its people, its wildlife, and our collections.
www.readingmuseum.org.uk
www.readingmuseum.org.uk
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
Reposted by Reading Museum
As the climate data for 2025 continues to be released, it's time to update various data visualisations.
First - the global climate stripes for 1850-2025. A third darkest red stripe is added.
The last 11 years have been the warmest 11 years on record. A sequence that is unlikely to be broken soon.
First - the global climate stripes for 1850-2025. A third darkest red stripe is added.
The last 11 years have been the warmest 11 years on record. A sequence that is unlikely to be broken soon.
January 14, 2026 at 11:02 AM
As the climate data for 2025 continues to be released, it's time to update various data visualisations.
First - the global climate stripes for 1850-2025. A third darkest red stripe is added.
The last 11 years have been the warmest 11 years on record. A sequence that is unlikely to be broken soon.
First - the global climate stripes for 1850-2025. A third darkest red stripe is added.
The last 11 years have been the warmest 11 years on record. A sequence that is unlikely to be broken soon.
Reposted by Reading Museum
What links red telephone boxes to Reading architectural features?
The Simeon Monument in Market Place, was designed by John Soane.
The Soane family tomb inspired Giles Gilbert Scott’s classic phone box design.
Gilbert Scott’s grandfather George, restored Reading Abbey Gateway #rdg #rdguk
The Simeon Monument in Market Place, was designed by John Soane.
The Soane family tomb inspired Giles Gilbert Scott’s classic phone box design.
Gilbert Scott’s grandfather George, restored Reading Abbey Gateway #rdg #rdguk
January 15, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Today, we have been cataloguing 'The Daisy No.2 Sweeper', vacuum cleaner about 1914.
It wouldn’t have been out of place in Downton Abbey. Perhaps Daisy, the maid would have used a ‘Daisy’ vacuum cleaner?
It's from one of our School Loans box H173 #FridayFinds Museum Object number: 2008.148.1
It wouldn’t have been out of place in Downton Abbey. Perhaps Daisy, the maid would have used a ‘Daisy’ vacuum cleaner?
It's from one of our School Loans box H173 #FridayFinds Museum Object number: 2008.148.1
January 9, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Today, we have been cataloguing 'The Daisy No.2 Sweeper', vacuum cleaner about 1914.
It wouldn’t have been out of place in Downton Abbey. Perhaps Daisy, the maid would have used a ‘Daisy’ vacuum cleaner?
It's from one of our School Loans box H173 #FridayFinds Museum Object number: 2008.148.1
It wouldn’t have been out of place in Downton Abbey. Perhaps Daisy, the maid would have used a ‘Daisy’ vacuum cleaner?
It's from one of our School Loans box H173 #FridayFinds Museum Object number: 2008.148.1
Stop right there! Your 2026 has been blessed by the most perfect little creature in our collection - made by 8-year-old Berkshire student Lynn in 1969 and collected for the museum's School Loans service. Form: flawless. Technique: masterful. Heart: 100000/10
😺 2012.686.2
😺 2012.686.2
January 5, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Stop right there! Your 2026 has been blessed by the most perfect little creature in our collection - made by 8-year-old Berkshire student Lynn in 1969 and collected for the museum's School Loans service. Form: flawless. Technique: masterful. Heart: 100000/10
😺 2012.686.2
😺 2012.686.2
Merry Christmas from all of us at Reading Museum!
It’s DECember 24th and our computer exhibition closes today, but we something new to Unwrap! 🎁
Explore our brand-new digital heritage webpages, made possible by the generous support @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/digital60
It’s DECember 24th and our computer exhibition closes today, but we something new to Unwrap! 🎁
Explore our brand-new digital heritage webpages, made possible by the generous support @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/digital60
December 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Merry Christmas from all of us at Reading Museum!
It’s DECember 24th and our computer exhibition closes today, but we something new to Unwrap! 🎁
Explore our brand-new digital heritage webpages, made possible by the generous support @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/digital60
It’s DECember 24th and our computer exhibition closes today, but we something new to Unwrap! 🎁
Explore our brand-new digital heritage webpages, made possible by the generous support @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/digital60
Jacksons Corner, a landmark Reading location, put on a good Christmas display - here it is in December 1963 🌲
Feeling nostalgic? Check out our new exhibition featuring models of the Jacksons stores in Reading. rdguk.info/jacksons_b1Wy7
📷 1980.36.D793.6
Reading Chronicle Collection
Feeling nostalgic? Check out our new exhibition featuring models of the Jacksons stores in Reading. rdguk.info/jacksons_b1Wy7
📷 1980.36.D793.6
Reading Chronicle Collection
December 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Jacksons Corner, a landmark Reading location, put on a good Christmas display - here it is in December 1963 🌲
Feeling nostalgic? Check out our new exhibition featuring models of the Jacksons stores in Reading. rdguk.info/jacksons_b1Wy7
📷 1980.36.D793.6
Reading Chronicle Collection
Feeling nostalgic? Check out our new exhibition featuring models of the Jacksons stores in Reading. rdguk.info/jacksons_b1Wy7
📷 1980.36.D793.6
Reading Chronicle Collection
Reposted by Reading Museum
Ever looked up and wondered what used to be above the shopfronts, or why there’s an old building in the middle of today’s high-rise offices, a strange road layout or a gap in the landscape? The art collection at @readingmuseum.bsky.social may hold the answer...
whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...
whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...
December 19, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Ever looked up and wondered what used to be above the shopfronts, or why there’s an old building in the middle of today’s high-rise offices, a strange road layout or a gap in the landscape? The art collection at @readingmuseum.bsky.social may hold the answer...
whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...
whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...
Reposted by Reading Museum
Jane Austen officially turns 250 on 16 December - well, if she were still alive she would...
So to mark the occasion, @readingmuseum.bsky.social will be welcoming visitors to the Abbey Gateway for a look around and to share interesting facts and anecdotes about her time #inrdg.
buff.ly/2XTMeaU
So to mark the occasion, @readingmuseum.bsky.social will be welcoming visitors to the Abbey Gateway for a look around and to share interesting facts and anecdotes about her time #inrdg.
buff.ly/2XTMeaU
December 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Jane Austen officially turns 250 on 16 December - well, if she were still alive she would...
So to mark the occasion, @readingmuseum.bsky.social will be welcoming visitors to the Abbey Gateway for a look around and to share interesting facts and anecdotes about her time #inrdg.
buff.ly/2XTMeaU
So to mark the occasion, @readingmuseum.bsky.social will be welcoming visitors to the Abbey Gateway for a look around and to share interesting facts and anecdotes about her time #inrdg.
buff.ly/2XTMeaU
This ribbed Roman jar made of amber glass was found in Silchester and dates from the 1st-2nd century 🍯 You can see it for yourself in our Silchester Gallery, on the top floor of the museum.
What do you think it could have been used for?
#FridayFinds
Object no: 1995.5.3
What do you think it could have been used for?
#FridayFinds
Object no: 1995.5.3
December 12, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This ribbed Roman jar made of amber glass was found in Silchester and dates from the 1st-2nd century 🍯 You can see it for yourself in our Silchester Gallery, on the top floor of the museum.
What do you think it could have been used for?
#FridayFinds
Object no: 1995.5.3
What do you think it could have been used for?
#FridayFinds
Object no: 1995.5.3
It's your last chance to get our must-have King Harold with arrow in the eye decoration before the last Christmas post!! Inspired by the Museum's Bayeux Tapestry(or buy in store upto Christmas Eve, while stocks last) reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com/products/har...
December 12, 2025 at 7:58 AM
It's your last chance to get our must-have King Harold with arrow in the eye decoration before the last Christmas post!! Inspired by the Museum's Bayeux Tapestry(or buy in store upto Christmas Eve, while stocks last) reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com/products/har...
This mid-20th century gadget is a money capsule from Jacksons. The pneumatic tube system handled cash throughout the store right up to its last day of trading.
Remember Jacksons Corner? Come visit our new exhibition featuring models of the Jacksons stores.
2014.24.13
Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
Remember Jacksons Corner? Come visit our new exhibition featuring models of the Jacksons stores.
2014.24.13
Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
December 5, 2025 at 10:06 AM
This mid-20th century gadget is a money capsule from Jacksons. The pneumatic tube system handled cash throughout the store right up to its last day of trading.
Remember Jacksons Corner? Come visit our new exhibition featuring models of the Jacksons stores.
2014.24.13
Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
Remember Jacksons Corner? Come visit our new exhibition featuring models of the Jacksons stores.
2014.24.13
Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
Reposted by Reading Museum
This Saturday, @readingmuseum.bsky.social have a special workshop for 8-11 yr olds that combines Christmas with their Reading’s DIGITAL Revolution exhibition, using LEGO and digital tech to build a mini Santa Detection Device!
At 11am and 2pm (selling fast)
whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...
At 11am and 2pm (selling fast)
whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...
December 4, 2025 at 12:22 PM
This Saturday, @readingmuseum.bsky.social have a special workshop for 8-11 yr olds that combines Christmas with their Reading’s DIGITAL Revolution exhibition, using LEGO and digital tech to build a mini Santa Detection Device!
At 11am and 2pm (selling fast)
whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...
At 11am and 2pm (selling fast)
whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...
This little tin might not look like much, but it has been a mini-mystery in our collection... until now 👀
Check out our latest guest blog by Zoe Handy to learn what the meaning behind this Huntley & Palmers tin is - including a surprising royal connection!
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/blog/royal-m...
Check out our latest guest blog by Zoe Handy to learn what the meaning behind this Huntley & Palmers tin is - including a surprising royal connection!
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/blog/royal-m...
December 2, 2025 at 11:25 AM
This little tin might not look like much, but it has been a mini-mystery in our collection... until now 👀
Check out our latest guest blog by Zoe Handy to learn what the meaning behind this Huntley & Palmers tin is - including a surprising royal connection!
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/blog/royal-m...
Check out our latest guest blog by Zoe Handy to learn what the meaning behind this Huntley & Palmers tin is - including a surprising royal connection!
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/blog/royal-m...
10% off everything today at our online museum shop for Museum Shop Sunday, including our exclusive Bayeux Tapestry gifts.
Support your local museum and do some Christmas shopping 🎄
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
Support your local museum and do some Christmas shopping 🎄
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:22 AM
10% off everything today at our online museum shop for Museum Shop Sunday, including our exclusive Bayeux Tapestry gifts.
Support your local museum and do some Christmas shopping 🎄
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
Support your local museum and do some Christmas shopping 🎄
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
Wonderful to see @archivesofit.bsky.social's work with us highlighted like this! 🎙️
#ReadingsDIGITALRevolution
#ReadingsDIGITALRevolution
It’s great to be included in The National Archives’ Year in Archives 2025 for the work we completed publishing interviews with former workers of the Digital Equipment Corporation in collaboration with @readingmuseum.bsky.social and The National Museum of Computing. #AYearinArchives #OralHistory
We’re delighted to announce that #AYearinArchives 2025 is now live!
Have a browse and let us know which projects you enjoy reading about: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec...
📷 RNLI, Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives, Staffordshire County Council, Gateshead Archive
(1/2)
Have a browse and let us know which projects you enjoy reading about: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec...
📷 RNLI, Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives, Staffordshire County Council, Gateshead Archive
(1/2)
November 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Wonderful to see @archivesofit.bsky.social's work with us highlighted like this! 🎙️
#ReadingsDIGITALRevolution
#ReadingsDIGITALRevolution
This week's #FridayFinds is a familiar sight to locals - though usually with more buses, less livestock!🐴
The watercolour was painted c.1795, artist unknown, showing Market Place and St Lawrence's Church, Reading.
Any other local sites you'd like to step back in time to see?
Object no: 1954.3.1🖼️
The watercolour was painted c.1795, artist unknown, showing Market Place and St Lawrence's Church, Reading.
Any other local sites you'd like to step back in time to see?
Object no: 1954.3.1🖼️
November 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
This week's #FridayFinds is a familiar sight to locals - though usually with more buses, less livestock!🐴
The watercolour was painted c.1795, artist unknown, showing Market Place and St Lawrence's Church, Reading.
Any other local sites you'd like to step back in time to see?
Object no: 1954.3.1🖼️
The watercolour was painted c.1795, artist unknown, showing Market Place and St Lawrence's Church, Reading.
Any other local sites you'd like to step back in time to see?
Object no: 1954.3.1🖼️
Discover unique gifts and support local makers this Sunday with 10% off everything online for Museum Shop Sunday, including exclusive Bayeux Tapestry gifts
Support your local museum and do some Christmas shopping!
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
#MuseumShopSunday #ShopLocal #SustainingCulture
Support your local museum and do some Christmas shopping!
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
#MuseumShopSunday #ShopLocal #SustainingCulture
November 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Discover unique gifts and support local makers this Sunday with 10% off everything online for Museum Shop Sunday, including exclusive Bayeux Tapestry gifts
Support your local museum and do some Christmas shopping!
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
#MuseumShopSunday #ShopLocal #SustainingCulture
Support your local museum and do some Christmas shopping!
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
#MuseumShopSunday #ShopLocal #SustainingCulture
Have you ever tasted medlar fruits? They are ancient sweet tasting fruits, that need to soften before eating. Not as popular nowadays, they were brought to Britain by the Romans.
This medlar fruit stone was discovered at the Roman town near Silchester. 1934.114.3.586 Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
This medlar fruit stone was discovered at the Roman town near Silchester. 1934.114.3.586 Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
November 21, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Have you ever tasted medlar fruits? They are ancient sweet tasting fruits, that need to soften before eating. Not as popular nowadays, they were brought to Britain by the Romans.
This medlar fruit stone was discovered at the Roman town near Silchester. 1934.114.3.586 Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
This medlar fruit stone was discovered at the Roman town near Silchester. 1934.114.3.586 Reading Museum
#FridayFinds
Reposted by Reading Museum
We were thinking "loo brush" too.
The rocks and seashells idea is interesting. We have form...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
The rocks and seashells idea is interesting. We have form...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Fishbourne Roman Palace pottery 'was toilet paper'
Pottery pieces once thought to be gaming pieces at a Roman site in Sussex are now believed to have been used for wiping bottoms.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:33 AM
We were thinking "loo brush" too.
The rocks and seashells idea is interesting. We have form...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
The rocks and seashells idea is interesting. We have form...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
We have lots of lovely festive events coming up at Reading Museum. More information on the website www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on-rea...
November 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
We have lots of lovely festive events coming up at Reading Museum. More information on the website www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on-rea...
Great event this week with Digital Destinations.
Young people visited the exhibition and connected with tech companies to find out about digital carreers.
Thanks to everyone who took part and to Berkshire Education Business Partnership and REDA.
@heritagefunduk.bsky.social
Young people visited the exhibition and connected with tech companies to find out about digital carreers.
Thanks to everyone who took part and to Berkshire Education Business Partnership and REDA.
@heritagefunduk.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Great event this week with Digital Destinations.
Young people visited the exhibition and connected with tech companies to find out about digital carreers.
Thanks to everyone who took part and to Berkshire Education Business Partnership and REDA.
@heritagefunduk.bsky.social
Young people visited the exhibition and connected with tech companies to find out about digital carreers.
Thanks to everyone who took part and to Berkshire Education Business Partnership and REDA.
@heritagefunduk.bsky.social
From Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 November our Huntley & Palmers Gallery will be closed for essential works 🛠️
The rest of the Museum will be open as normal
To plan your visit go to www.readingmuseum.org.uk/your-visit-reading-museum
The rest of the Museum will be open as normal
To plan your visit go to www.readingmuseum.org.uk/your-visit-reading-museum
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
From Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 November our Huntley & Palmers Gallery will be closed for essential works 🛠️
The rest of the Museum will be open as normal
To plan your visit go to www.readingmuseum.org.uk/your-visit-reading-museum
The rest of the Museum will be open as normal
To plan your visit go to www.readingmuseum.org.uk/your-visit-reading-museum
Reposted by Reading Museum
The ruins of Reading Abbey all aglow as we head towards winter @readingmuseum.bsky.social #rdg #rdguk
November 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The ruins of Reading Abbey all aglow as we head towards winter @readingmuseum.bsky.social #rdg #rdguk
See our newest artwork in the Welcome Gallery. This embroidered, applique panel was inspired by the artist's second great grandmother, Francine, who had been bought out of slavery by act of manumission.
'Deed of Manumission', 2025, by Chris Mercier. 2025.43.1
Reading Foundation for Arts
#FridayFinds
'Deed of Manumission', 2025, by Chris Mercier. 2025.43.1
Reading Foundation for Arts
#FridayFinds
November 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
See our newest artwork in the Welcome Gallery. This embroidered, applique panel was inspired by the artist's second great grandmother, Francine, who had been bought out of slavery by act of manumission.
'Deed of Manumission', 2025, by Chris Mercier. 2025.43.1
Reading Foundation for Arts
#FridayFinds
'Deed of Manumission', 2025, by Chris Mercier. 2025.43.1
Reading Foundation for Arts
#FridayFinds