Reading Museum

@readingmuseum

Posts from Reading Museum. We share stories from the history of the town of Reading, its people, its wildlife, and our collections.

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Reading Museum@readingmuseum· 18d

Did you know part of Bugsy Malone was filmed in Reading, long before Shinfield Studios? In the all child cast gangster story Bugsy Malone starring Jodie Foster and Scott Baio from 1975, the bar scenes were filmed in the Huntley & Palmers factory at Reading.

Director and two actors in 1920s dress sitting at a table, Reading Museum

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· 24d

Here we go again 🇫🇷 VS 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #1066 #2026 #WorldCup2026

English versus Norman-French armies in the Bayeux Tapestry's Battle of Hastings scene

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· 25d

Compare these two views of Reading from about 185 years apart A view of Caversham Bridge and Reading from Caversham Hill by Edmund John Niemann about 1841 and a photo by Gab Gibek in 2026 See this and more in our exhibition Reading: Then and Now 2023.85.1 Reading Museum and Gab Gibek #FridayFinds

painting of river Thames and Reading town, the view from Caversham hill, Reading Museum collection

photo of river Thames at Reading from Caversham, photo by Gab Gibek

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· 26d

...and England after facing Argentina #WorldCup2026

Harold's death by arrow in the eye (supposedly) in the Bayeux Tapestry

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· 27d

How France played last night #WorldCup2026

Bayeux Tapestry soldier falling head first

upside down Bayeux Tapestry horse during battle scene

Bayeux Tapestry soldier and horse falling down on each other

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· 27d

⚽🏆 Semi-final fever is in the air! 🏆⚽ From Sat 18 July, Road to Glory display will feature this rare ticket from Reading's 1926 FA Cup Semi-Final. Although Reading's cup run ended there, the year remains unforgettable, with the side winning the league and reaching the final stages of the FA Cup.

ticket for semi-final football match, Reading Museum

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jul 10

In 1955 Simonds Brewery Annual Sports Day took place on Saturday 9 July at Berkeley Avenue Sports Ground, Reading. The weather was glorious with children enjoying pop, and the adults other refreshments! There were events for all ages. 📷 1980.36.C120.1 📷 Reading Chronicle Collection #FridayFinds

photograph of three children drinking from a bottle with long straws

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jul 8

Planning what to do over the summer? 🌞 We have lots of low cost, family friendly activities running throughout the holidays at Reading Museum! 🌞 www.readingmuseum.org.uk

Reading Museum summer holidays listings poster of all family events in July and August

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jul 3

'Time is nigh' by Stuart Roy Clarke, Royals fans are optimistic. It's 2003, Reading FC face Wolves in the play-offs, it could be a second successive promotion, the Royals had the momentum, but it was not to be. 2012.395.1 Reading Foundation for Art Collection ©️Stuart Roy Clarke #FridayFinds

Stuart Roy Clarke photograph of football fans cheering with their arms up in the air. Reading Fondation of Art collection at Reading Museum.

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jul 1

Reading’s unique full-size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry is 140 years old this year! Visit for free or book a guided tour with one of our expert team. From September you can compare it to the original on display at the other end of the Elizabeth Line in the British Museum! #BayeuxTapestry

A detail from Reading Museum's Bayeux Tapestry, showing soldiers fighting with swords on horseback and on foot at the Battle of Hastings. There are two borders at the top and bottom, with birds and animals at the top, and archers in the bottom.

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jun 26

Caversham Bridge is one of the main crossing points of the River Thames in Reading. This photo from 1868-9 shows its rebuilding from wood to an iron lattice construction. Now its 100 years since it was rebuilt in concrete. Find out more in our new guest blog. Object No. 1931.124.1

black and white photograph of old rebuilding bridge. sepia tones with some people to the right and iron works to the left of the image. From the Reading Museum collection

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jun 19

This geometric open weave wall hanging is by influential weaver Peter Collingwood. His innovative macrogauze wall hangings broke away from traditional weaving, with the warp (vertical) threads zigzagging and crossing each other to create new geometrical patterns. Object 2007.1984.1 #FridayFinds

Geometric textile wall hanging in cream and black linen, Reading Museum collection

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jun 17

This stunning map of Reading by local artist Rebecca Howard is back in stock. It shows the whole town from Whitley Wood in the south, Woodley in the east, Tilehurst in the west, Emmer Green in the north. It features many of Reading's key buildings and open spaces. Back in stock: rdguk.info/DLkPH

a map of Reading by local artist Rebecca Howard showing many of Reading's key buildings and open spaces

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jun 17

We have a unique work of art by Fakhria Nezami on display in the Welcome Gallery at Reading Museum. It uses the refined techniques of traditional miniature painting and took over five months to paint. Find out more www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/fakhria-nezami-shamsa #RDG #RDGUK #RefugeeWeek

a woman artist working on a painting using miniature techniques

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jun 9

Dry your dishes with a dash of history using this beautifully designed cotton tea towel depicting scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry! reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com/collections/... #RDG #RDGUK #BritainsBayeuxTapestry

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jun 5

What has changed, and what has stayed the same? Crown Bridge aka Factory Bridge in 'Reconstruction, Reading' by Ellie Mary Beadle in about 1937 and again in 2026 by Dagmara Mętel. See these and more in our ‘Reading: Then and Now’ exhibition in the Art Gallery 1976.29.1 #FridayFinds #ReadingHistory

black and white etching of the river Kennet with cranes and construction of a factory bridge, Reading Museum collection

colour photo of the River Kennet in Reading with former brick factory building in background and pedestrians on the towpath, taken by Dagmara Mętel for Reading Museum

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jun 4

We are very excited about the Bayeux Tapestry coming to the @britishmuseum.bsky.social in September, complementing our beautiful Victorian copy in Reading! So we were delighted to show round colleagues from the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, Normandy last week, pictured in front of Bayeux Castle!

Three staff from Reading Museum and the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in front of Reading Museum's Bayeux Tapestry, the section shows Bayeux Castle

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· Jun 3

From rocks & minerals to wedding dresses, our loans boxes contain (almost) more than you can imagine! So have a sneaky peek at all the work that goes into maintaining our Loans box collection.

museum staff working on photography project

4 rocks being photgraphed under controlled lighting for a museum project

a collection of rocks being recorded in a museum setting

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 30

Our colleagues recreated this vintage photo at Didcot Railway Centre yesterday 🍪🍪

A steam train excursion to Huntley and Palmers in Reading, with staff and volunteers from Didcot Railway Centre and Reading Museum holding Biscuit tins

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 30

For National Biscuit Day we are sharing this photograph. Trains delivered H&P biscuit tins around the country and brought visitors to Reading. Just like this excursion party to Huntley & Palmers in 1934. Museum object no. 1999.2.9 Reading Museum

a steam train with crowd on platform for an excursion to Huntley and Palmers in Reading, from the Reading Museum collection

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 29

It's National Biscuit Day, so we have been celebrating our Huntley & Palmers heritage with our friends at Didcot Railway Centre with a Great Western Railway excursion steam train that once ran to Biscuit Town aka Reading!! 🍪🍪☕️

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 27

Fabulous half term fun at Reading Museum. Pop in and join us. Free entry to the Museum! (Donations very welcome). Find out more on our website here www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/fam...

a young child in a t shirt holds up two plastic cups.

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 22

'Old Cottages, Caversham' by Faith Ashford (1884-1967) This is probably the view from her home on Matlock Road, Caversham where she lived with Anne Pritchard. In the 1920s and 30s Faith taught handicrafts at the University of Reading’s School of Art. Following retirement she retrained as a painter.

A street corner in the snow with trees and a house in the background by Faith Ashford, in the Reading Museum collection

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 21

Do you have the skills, experience and enthusiasm to reinterpret and enhance the visitor experience of our Roman Gallery, connecting a wider range of people to Reading’s Roman heritage? 📆 This is an exciting opportunity to join Reading Museum’s team. Find out more and apply at rdguk.info/J716R

job advert of Collection Interpretation Officer at Reading Museum

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 20

Don't miss our brilliant *Free* family sessions with artist Fakhira Nezami next Tuesday... For more information about all our May Half term events and how to book: www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/fam... #RDG #RDGUK #LowCost #FamilyFun

A bright geometric pattern in gold, blues and red. looks like tiling. image Fakhira Nezemi

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 20

⭐ Planning low-cost, fun activities with your family this May half term? 📢 Join us next week at Reading Museum for some brilliant activities! ⭐ www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/family-fun-reading-museum

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 15

What is this boy about to do? It’s part of an artwork of cartwheeling boys. The drawing is a design for the sculpture, a gift from the twin town of Dusseldorf commemorating the friendship between the two towns. Cartwheeling is traditional in Dusseldorf. See it outside the Civic Centre. #FridayFinds

drawing of a boy about to do a cartwheel on cream coloured paper.

sculpture of 3 cartwheeling boys on the wall of a civic building (Reading Civic office) wiht shrubs and greenery in the foreground.

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 14

Drop into Reading Museum to see 'By Association' - a new body of work by Adi Toch, developed in response to our Roman collection. Find out more here: www.readingmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/adi... Adi's beautiful book 'Place to Place' is also available in the Reading Museum Shop Photo Sylvain Deleu

a collection of small items inspried by the Reading Museum collection by artist Adi Toch. small items on a white background, items made from stone and silver. Photo Sylvain Deleu

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 8

We have loaned a remarkable object to the V&A’s exhibition The Music Is Black - an African thumb piano made using a Huntley & Palmers biscuit tin. This early 20th century instrument transforms an iconic Reading export into a living piece of African musical heritage. 🎹 1992.162.18 #FridayFinds

thumb piano made from a biscuit tin, on display on a purple background, from Reading Museum collection

Reading Museum@readingmuseum· May 7

The evidence for the Sumer is Icumen in manuscript belonging to Reading Abbey, laid out by a @uniofreading.bsky.social Medieval History professor. On loan from @britishlibrary.bsky.social, supported by the Dorset Foundation, in memory of Harry M Weinrebe. With thanks to @blmedieval.bsky.social.