Huzzah! @readingmuseum.bsky.social is open once again - and they've got some very interesting workshops and events lined-up... starting this Saturday with a mixed-media collage workshop in partnership with New Directions College! whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...

📢 Our Reading tote bags are back in stock! 💚 Flash Sale - we are offering them at £12.99 rather than our usual price of £14.99 for the rest of January: reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com/products/rea... #RDGUK #ShopLocal

📢 Reading Museum reopened today after planned essential maintenance work was completed! 😊 We look forward to welcoming our lovely visitors back through the doors #RDG #RDGUK

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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...

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...

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

Wonderful to see @archivesofit.bsky.social's work with us highlighted like this! 🎙️ #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🖼️

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

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

We were thinking "loo brush" too. 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...

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

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 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

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? 👇

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! 🏎️

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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.

🔊 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

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

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

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

The Big Draw Festival is coming to @readingmuseum.bsky.social, @themerl.bsky.social and Reading Station on 29 & 30 Oct. Discover the story of pioneering draftswomen Elsie Winterton, and be inspired by archive station pictures and plans to create your own drawings. whatsonreading.com/venues/readi...

Today's collections find: a yellow embroidered hula cap, part of the everyday dress of men from the Hausa who are the largest ethnic group in West Africa, mostly based in Nigeria. It is part of Reading Museum's world objects collection. 2010.163.1 Reading Museum #FridayFinds

Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is all about ✨glamour✨ We're sharing this beautifully illustrated catalogue for shortbreads, biscuits and cakes produced by Huntley & Palmers in 1929. Who doesn't feel this glamourous reaching for a cookie and a cuppa? 🍪 1994.21.50 🖼️

Theatre at @southstreetarts.bsky.social A new exhibition at @readingmuseum.bsky.social Music classes and events from CultureMix Arts And much more besides. Reading's #BlackHistoryMonth programme kicks off today and runs throughout October! whatsonreading.com/themes/black...

This suitcase took a long journey to the museum. It came from Jamaica in October 1957 aboard the Italian liner 'Sicula Oceanica'. The owner was a member of the Windrush generation, who significantly contributed to the UK's post-war economy. 2024.50.1 Reading Museum #FridayFinds #BlackHistoryMonth

This aircraft worker from WW2 was photographed for the Ministry of Information at Miles Factory in Woodley. The factory made 5000 new aircraft during the war and repaired damaged fighter planes. Thousands of women were employed in this industry in Reading. 1946.52.63 🖼️ Reading Museum 📷 #FridayFinds

This week’s @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange is all about animals. We couldn't miss this opportunity to share one of our favourites, the rather unfairly titled "Beauty and the Beast" by Charles Burton Barber, painted in 1878. 1931.320.1 🦚🐖 Reading Museum 📷