Reading Museum

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Reading Museum
Reading Town Hall (July 19, 2007).jpg
The entrance to the Reading Museum within Reading Town Hall
Location map United Kingdom Reading Central.png
Red pog.svg
Location within Reading Town Centre
Established1883
Location Reading, Berkshire, UK
Coordinates 51°27′26″N0°58′13″W / 51.4572°N 0.9702°W / 51.4572; -0.9702
Type Local museum
Public transit access Reading railway station
Website readingmuseum.org.uk

Reading Museum (run by the Reading Museum Service) is a museum of the history of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire, and the surrounding area. It is accommodated within Reading Town Hall, and contains galleries describing the history of Reading and its related industries, a gallery of artefacts discovered during the excavations of Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester Roman Town), a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry, finds relating to Reading Abbey and an art collection. [1]

Contents

History of the museum

Reading Town Hall was built in several phases between 1786 and 1897, although the principal facade was designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1875. In 1879, the foundation stone was laid for a new wing containing a library and museum, and the museum duly opened in 1883. The museum displayed a large eclectic collection from the late Horatio Bland. [2] Three art galleries were added in further extension in 1897. [3]

In 1975, the civic offices moved out of the Town Hall to Reading Civic Centre. They were followed in 1985 by the Reading Central Library which left only the museum and the concert hall in use. After some debate, plans to demolish the Town Hall and replace it with a new cultural centre were abandoned, and in 1986 refurbishment of the building started. The museum was closed for renewal in 1989, reopening in stages from 1993 (the Reading: People & Place gallery) to 2000.

Principal galleries

Story of Reading Gallery

This documents Reading's history, from its origins as a Saxon settlement in the 6th century up to today, with a mixture of oral history presentations, interactive displays and a mix of real objects from the period. There is an emphasis on Reading Abbey. [4]

The gallery features many archaeological finds from the excavations conducted at the nearby Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester Roman Town) together with explanatory models and other information on life in the Roman town. This includes the bronze Silchester eagle that was immortalised by Rosemary Sutcliff in her children's book The Eagle of the Ninth , first published in 1954.

The Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum was excavated in the 1860s, unearthing a diversity of finds including jewellery, fine glass and pottery, sculpture, mosaics, iron tools and coins. Many items found during the excavation are displayed in the gallery. Items of particular note include the Silchester eagle, the Silchester Horse and the damaged head of Seraphis. A model of the Roman town is also on display.

Atrium

This space provides seating around a Roman pavement mosaic from the Silchester site, where a 4th-century Christian church is thought to have existed. On the wall are displays of two large mosaics from Silchester. The mosaics are juxtaposed with ceramics of Alan Caiger-Smith produced at his Aldermaston Pottery.

The Bayeux Tapestry Gallery Bayeux Tapestry Reading Museum 2019.jpg
The Bayeux Tapestry Gallery
The Bayeux Tapestry Gallery Bayeux Tapestry Gallery Reading Museum.jpg
The Bayeux Tapestry Gallery

Reading Museum's Bayeux Tapestry Gallery exhibits an accurate replica of the Bayeux Tapestry, made by 35 women of the Leek Embroidery Society in 1885. The tapestry is the only known full size woven copy of the original tapestry in existence.

The tapestry is 70 metres long and depicts the events of the Norman Conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy in 1066. This includes the preamble to conflict, followed by the preparations for war and decisive Norman victory in the Battle of Hastings. Information boards around the exhibit offer a translation of the original Medieval Latin, while providing the visitor with a historical description of the conquest. The final section of the Tapestry, which included William's coronation at Winchester cathedral, was lost before the copy was made. The events have a local significance to Reading, for King William's youngest son Henry I founded Reading Abbey in 1121 and was later buried there in 1136.

The exhibit is complemented by information on the history of Saxon migration and Viking raids in the local area. [5]

The Green Space

The Green Space Gallery Green Space Reading Museum.jpg
The Green Space Gallery

The Gallery explains the geology and natural history of the Reading area through a large display of specimens. Exploring the history of the Reading area from 400 million years ago to the present day, it explains what was in the area before people existed and how Reading's landscape and environment have developed and been influenced by human activity since the Stone Age. [6]

The Gallery also shows the animals and plants living in the Reading area today. Highlights in the display include a complete Iron Age dog skeleton discovered and excavated at Blewburton hillfort; and a royal red deer stag which was donated to the museum by George V from the royal herd at Windsor Great Park. [6]

The Huntley & Palmers Gallery Huntley & Palmers Reading Museum.jpg
The Huntley & Palmers Gallery

This gallery reveals the history of the biscuit-making industry that was once one of the mainstays of the Reading economy, with special emphasis on the Huntley and Palmers company, Reading's world famous biscuit makers. The display charts how Huntley & Palmers pioneered the mass production of biscuits and explains why Reading became known as the 'Biscuit Town'. [7]

The display shows what factory life was like for Huntley & Palmers' thousands of employees explained through oral recordings, photographs and historic film, including the earliest surviving film of a British factory in action. Highlights of the display include about 300 decorative biscuit tins as well as advertising material and other artefacts; an African thumb piano crafted from a Huntley & Palmers biscuit tin; a biscuit supplied to Captain Scott's final Antarctic expedition, and an example of the rude ‘Kate Greenaway’ biscuit tin that continues to embarrass the company today. [7]

This Gallery is named The Windows Gallery as it is a 'window' on the museum's wide collection of sculpture and decorative art, ranging from Romanesque stones from the 12th-century from Reading Abbey to modern pieces by Rodin and Epstein.

Originally, this section of the museum housed the Reading School of Art and as such was designed to be well-lit by natural daylight from the windows on either side. Highlights of the collection include: 12th century Romanesque capitals from Reading Abbey; sculpture by Rodin, Epstein and Gibbings, and Delftware plates and other ceramics. [8]

This is a recreation of the museum's original Victorian era art gallery and houses changing exhibitions of artworks. It is named after John Madejski, the chairman of Reading F.C.

This space is designed to house changing exhibitions, both from the museum's collection and external sources. As an example, in late 2004, the gallery contained an exhibition on the history of the Reading Festival.

Access

The museum is free to visit. As of February 2020, it is open from 10:00 to 16:00 on Tuesday to Friday, 10.00 to 17.00 on Saturdays, and closed all day Monday and Sunday, with exceptions for holidays. [9]

Charitable

Reading Foundation for Art was set up in 1974 with the ambition of building an art collection to enrich the lives of the local residents and enhance the cultural fabric of Reading and the surrounding areas. It now has a collection of over 150 works on permanent loan to Reading Museum and is a registered charity.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayeux Tapestry</span> Embroidery depicting the 1066 Norman invasion of England

The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres long and 50 centimetres tall that depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, led by William, Duke of Normandy challenging Harold II, King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. It is thought to date to the 11th century, within a few years of the battle. Now widely accepted to have been made in England perhaps as a gift for William, it tells the story from the point of view of the conquering Normans and for centuries has been preserved in Normandy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calleva Atrebatum</span> Former settlement in England

Calleva Atrebatum was an Iron Age oppidum, the capital of the Atrebates tribe. It then became a walled town in the Roman province of Britannia, at a major crossroads of the roads of southern Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little London, Tadley, Hampshire</span> Human settlement in England

Little London is a village situated between the North Hampshire Downs and the gravel plains of the Kennet valley, 7 miles (11 km) north of Basingstoke and 15 miles (24 km) south of Reading. It is situated within Pamber civil parish and backs on to Pamber Forest, a 500-acre (2.0 km2) SSSI and remnant of the much larger ancient Royal Forest of Pamber. It is recorded as having been established for at least 400 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silchester</span> Human settlement in England

Silchester is a village and civil parish about 5 miles (8 km) north of Basingstoke in Hampshire. It is adjacent to the county boundary with Berkshire and about 9 miles (14 km) south-west of Reading.

<i>The Eagle of the Ninth</i> 1954 childrens novel by Rosemary Sutcliff

The Eagle of the Ninth is a historical adventure novel for children written by Rosemary Sutcliff and published in 1954. The story is set in Roman Britain in the 2nd century AD, after the building of Hadrian's Wall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of English Rural Life</span> Agricultural museum in Reading, England

The Museum of English Rural Life, also known as The MERL, is a museum, library and archive dedicated to recording the changing face of farming and the countryside in England. The museum is run by the University of Reading, and is situated in Redlands Road to the rear of the institution's London Road Campus near to the centre of Reading in southern England. The location was formerly known as East Thorpe House and then St Andrew's Hall. It is an accredited museum and accredited archive as recognised by Arts Council England and the National Archives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntley & Palmers</span> English biscuit manufacturing company

Huntley & Palmers is a British company of biscuit makers originally based in Reading, Berkshire. Formed by Joseph Huntley in 1822, the company became one of the world's first global brands and ran what was once the world’s largest biscuit factory. The biscuits were sold in elaborately decorated biscuit tins. In 1900, the company's products were sold in 172 countries; further, their global reach saw their advertising posters feature scenes from around the world. Over the years, the company was also known as "J. Huntley & Son" and "Huntley & Palmer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Huntley</span> English businessman (1775–1857)

Joseph Huntley (1775–1857) was a 19th-century biscuit maker and innovator, who lived in the English town of Reading. In 1822 he founded a small biscuit baker and confectioner shop at number 72 London Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stratfield Saye</span>

Stratfield Saye is a small village and civil parish in the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane and the English county of Hampshire. The parish includes the hamlets of West End Green, Fair Oak Green and Fair Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tadley Calleva F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Tadley Calleva Football Club are a football club based in Tadley, Hampshire, England. The club is affiliated to the Hampshire Football Association. The club's name of Calleva comes from the nearby Roman Town of Calleva Atrebatum, based just outside Silchester. They play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Way</span> Roman road that ran from Calleva Atrebatum to Sorbiodunum

Port Way is an ancient road in southern England, which ran from Calleva Atrebatum in a south-westerly direction to Sorbiodunum. Often associated with the Roman Empire, the road may have predated the Roman occupation of Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mortimer West End</span> Human settlement in England

Mortimer West End is a village and civil parish in north Hampshire in England. It lies in the northernmost point of the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Frith</span> Iron Age hillfort in Hampshire, England

The Frith is a small univallate Iron Age hillfort to the north of Silchester, Calleva Atrebatum, Roman town in the English county of Hampshire. A single bank covers all sides apart from the south east, and is at the most about 5 feet (1.5 m) high on the western edge. A ditch is also traceable for the length of the bank, although at varying states.

Occupation at the site of Reading may date back to the Roman period, possibly as either a trading port on the River Thames, or as an intersection on the Roman road connecting London with Calleva Atrebatum near Silchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silchester Ogham stone</span> Pillar stone

The Silchester Ogham stone is a pillar stone discovered at the Roman town on Calleva Atrebatum in Silchester, Hampshire during excavations in 1893. Thus far it remains the only one of its kind found in England, and the only ogham inscription in England east of Cornwall and Devon. The stone is held in a storage facility of Reading Museum in Reading, Berkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devil's Highway (Roman Britain)</span> Roman road in England

The Devil's Highway was a Roman road in Britain connecting Londinium (London) to Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester) via Pontes (Staines). The road was the principal route to the west of Britain during the Roman period but, whilst maintained for its easternmost section, was replaced by other routes after the demise of Roman Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silchester eagle</span> Roman eagle statue

The Silchester eagle is a Roman bronze casting dating from the first or second century CE, uncovered in 1866 at Calleva Atrebatum in Silchester, Hampshire, England. It was purchased in 1980 by Reading Museum in Berkshire where it remains on display as of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of George Palmer</span> Sculpture by George Blackall Simonds

The statue of George Palmer stands in Palmer Park, in Reading, Berkshire. The statue, by George Blackall Simonds, was unveiled on 4 November 1891, though it was originally in Broad Street and only later moved to Palmer Park. The statue has been classed Grade II Listed monument since 14 December 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Reading, Berkshire</span> Timeline of notable events

The following is a timeline of the history of Reading, the county town of Berkshire in England.

Nina Crummy is a British archaeologist and artefact specialist, especially of Roman material culture.

References

  1. Reading Museum, Culture24, UK.
  2. "Open of New Public Building". Reading Mercury. 3 June 1882.
  3. "Reading Town Hall (townhall-36.pdf)". Reading Museum Service. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  4. "Story of Reading Gallery". Reading Museum. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  5. Britain's Bayeux Tapestry at the Reading Museum, Reading Museum Service, Reading Borough Council, UK.
  6. 1 2 The Green Space Gallery - Museum of Reading website
  7. 1 2 The Huntley and Palmers Gallery - Museum of Reading website
  8. The Window Gallery - Museum of Reading website
  9. "Opening times". Reading Museum. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.

51°27′26″N0°58′13″W / 51.4572°N 0.9702°W / 51.4572; -0.9702