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readingmuseum.bsky.social
Reading Museum
@readingmuseum.bsky.social
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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
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readingmuseum.bsky.social
Wonderful to see @archivesofit.bsky.social's work with us highlighted like this! 🎙️
#ReadingsDIGITALRevolution
archivesofit.bsky.social Archives of IT @archivesofit.bsky.social · 11h
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
uknatarcsector.bsky.social UK Archive Sector Leadership @uknatarcsector.bsky.social · 1d
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)
November 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
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🖼️
Watercolour showing the marketplace in Reading in the late 1700s - there is a church in the background and the marketplace is busy with people, carts, horses and cows. From Reading Museum's collection.
November 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
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
Reading Museum shop gifts including Bayeux Tapestry books, teas towels and mugs
November 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
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
strip of card with a dried medlar fruit stone in the centre, Reading Museum
November 21, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by Reading Museum
romanpalace.bsky.social
We were thinking "loo brush" too.

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
readingmuseum.bsky.social
We have lots of lovely festive events coming up at Reading Museum. More information on the website www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on-rea...
christmas at Reading Museum poster with events happening from November onwards. Bright red background and christmas style decorations around the text.
November 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
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 visit the Digital exhibition at Reading Museum. a large gallery view with several young people looking at objects.
November 19, 2025 at 12:07 PM
readingmuseum.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 Huntley and Palmers Gallery at Reading Museum
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by Reading Museum
spiddly.bsky.social
The ruins of Reading Abbey all aglow as we head towards winter @readingmuseum.bsky.social #rdg #rdguk
November 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
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
Embroidered artwork of figure holding written document. Reading Museum
November 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is photographic portraiture 📷

Peter Hawkes captured this candid moment in 1987. He was one of several local photographers who contributed to a project documenting 24 hours in Reading, Friday 5 - Saturday 6 June that year.

Caption ideas? 👇
Black and white photo showing two young children seated in a pushchair. One child holds a baby bottle and both are wearing jackets. The pushchair frame and canopy are visible in the background. Photo by Peter Hawkes, from Reading Museum's collection
November 13, 2025 at 12:39 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
Today's #Museum30 theme is #digital 💻
Believe it or not, this DEC HiNote laptop (indirectly) helped break the sound barrier - it was used to support the Thrust SuperSonic Car which broke the land speed record in 1997, and is still coated with dust from the Nevada desert where the test took place! 🏎️
A glass display case from Reading's Digital Revolution exhibition, containing old technology and promotional materials. There is a black electronic device with a screen surrounded by colourful brochures, product boxes, and manuals featuring branding such as “DEC” and “ActiveMS.” Image copyright Reading Museum.
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
The rise of AI-generated art is a hot topic, and this lithograph marks an early chapter in that story.

The original image was generated in 1967/8 by Japan’s first computer art group in Tokyo, founded by students including Masao Komura.

See it now in our Welcome Gallery!

💻 2001.205.1
#FridayFinds
A black-and-white lithograph featuring a stylized human head in profile. The head is formed by tightly spaced, radiating lines that converge at a central point near the face. Image by Reading Museum.
November 7, 2025 at 11:22 AM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
This large wooden case contains two Dalmatian or crested pelicans. They are one of the world's largest flying birds.

Book on our Store tour to see this, and other hidden treasures not on display. rdguk.info/store_7AK7o

🐦 1957.317.1=2
Reading Museum collection
#FridayFinds
two large white birds in glass display case
October 31, 2025 at 3:23 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
Want to see some of our unique collections up close? Book now for a behind the scenes tour next week (5th November). Bookings close soon so don't miss your chance. More details on our website. www.readingmuseum.org.uk/new-behind-s...
two people look at a museum item, a stone, on a low shelf
October 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is SpoooooOoooOoooky Art 👻

This Mark Symons piece shows a group of fairy-like figures dancing through a graveyard by the light of the moon. Sweet or spooky? We'll let you decide...

📷 Watercolour sketch from Reading Museum's collection
Faded watercolour showing a graveyard at night with a bright moon above shadowy trees and crosses. Numerous indistinct fairy figures, some holding flowers, are gathered. The colours are dark and muted, with touches of red. The painting’s surface is damaged, showing white spots and worn edges. From Reading Museum's collection.
October 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Reading Museum
brittunculus.bsky.social
A beautifully intricate geometric mosaic from Silchester, Hampshire ( #Roman Calleva Atrebatum).

The materials used were mainly local: limestone (yellow), Purbeck chalk (white), Kimmeridge shale (black) & crushed tile (red).

Later C.2, now in @readingmuseum.bsky.social
#RomanBritain #MosaicMonday
The mosaic, wall-mounted in one of the museum galleries. Its central motif is a cantharus double-handled wine cup, surrounded by stylised ivy leaves, perhaps in reference to Bacchus, the god of wine and vitality. Close up of a stylised rosette enclosed within a black square, itself in a hexagon. A nearby display cabinet contains a large fragment of plain white mosaic, individual tesserae and a (fairly corroded) iron mosaicist's hammer used for cutting them to size.
October 27, 2025 at 12:48 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
Check out these pictures of Reading station from our collection. Feeling inspired? Why not create your own drawing at our #Railway200 Big Draw on Wed 29 Oct 🚆

1931.435.1 Reading GWR Station 1842
2017.106.1 Shunting yard by Albert Cooper
2024.6.2 Railway Station by Robbie MacGregor
#FridayFinds
black and white image of a wide road leading to train station buildings from Reading Museum collection watercolour painting of shunting yard with a stream train in middle ground, Reading Museum collection black and white sketch drawing of Reading train station, Reading Museum collection
October 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
We witnessed a truly special moment this week as Marcia, Trevor, and Heather visited our pop-up exhibition We Were There: A Caribbean Story.

They recreated their original childhood photo which features in our Routes to Reading display 💛 #RoutesToReading #BlackHistoryMonth
A photograph showing two black women (Marcia and Heather) standing either side of a black man (Trevor) with his arms crossed. All three are wearing jeans and jumpers. They are standing in front of a museum display with a photo of the three of them as children, in the same position and pose. The original photograph has been circled in red with a red arrow pointing towards the three siblings to highlight the connection.
October 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
Don't miss our *Special Monday Opening* at Reading Museum next week (27th October) for half term...

Our Rat and Bat themed trail and craft activity will be running every day 🦇 🐀 🦇

www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/family-fun-reading-museum

#RDGUK #OctHalfTermFun @rdgwhatson.bsky.social
Family Fun at Reading Museum!
October Half Term Discover half term fun at Reading Museum.
rdguk.info
October 22, 2025 at 8:43 AM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
Ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in a museum?? Find out the SHOCKING TRUTH* for yourself on our new store-tour:
🏛️ 5th November
🔗 www.readingmuseum.org.uk/new-behind-s...

*we have a lot of objects. like really a lot. and we will nerd out about them for as long as you listen.
a white woman wearing jeans and a cheque shirt is gesturing towards a sculpture in a museum store - there are tall shelves stacked with boxes and other museum objects in the background.
October 21, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Reading Museum
southstreetarts.bsky.social
🔊 New on Sale! 🔊 SITELINES presents 'The Sound', stories & sounds from Reading's Soundsystem heyday, Wed 21-Sat 24 Jan 2026! Celebrate pioneering selectors & operators; box boys & MCs. Staged as a theatrical soundsystem night, expect great music, drama & RDG history whatsonreading.com/the-sound
Artistic rendition of a huge stack of speakers, coloured red, yellow and green, in front of a black and white photo collage of buildings found in Reading town centre.
October 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Reading Museum
rdgwhatson.bsky.social
Author David Cliffe is coming to Reading Central Library on 4 Nov to talk about his book 'A Reading Scrapbook', including how the library's collection of old documents shed light on life in Reading over the last few centuries.

FREE but places are limited - booking is essential.
buff.ly/ixp1jDE
Cover of the book "A Reading Scrapbook" featuring a hand-drawn map of Reading
October 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
Today's object spotlight shows a famous Reading landmark: the Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens. The lion memorializes 328 men from the Berkshire Regiment who died in the 1880 battle of Maiwand, Afghanistan. This souvenir tea set was made in Germany between 1900–1905 ☕

🦁 1996.129.3
#FridayFinds
colourful teacup with image of the Forbury lion sculpture with a bandstand in the background, from Reading Museum's collection
October 17, 2025 at 9:38 AM
readingmuseum.bsky.social
We have some wonderful new Fairtrade Christmas Decorations in the Museum Shop - including some of our favourite historical figures!
From King Harold (complete with arrow) to Jane Austen

Drop in tomorrow 10am until 5pm to take a look or browse online at
reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com
Reading Museum shop selection of Fairtrade and handmade decorations
October 17, 2025 at 7:53 AM