Principal Galleries
The Reading: People & Place gallery 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.
The Silchester Gallery features many archeological 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 immortalized by Rosemary Sutcliff in her children’s book The Eagle of the Ninth.
The Bayeux Gallery contains the UK's only copy of the famous Bayeux Tapestry, made in 1885, together with information on the history of Saxon migration and Viking raids in the local area.
The Green Space explains the geology and natural history of the Reading area, with a wide range of specimens.
The Huntley & Palmers Gallery explains 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.
The Windows Gallery displays the museum's collection of sculpture and decorative art, ranging from 12th century pieces from Reading Abbey to modern pieces by Rodin and Epstein.
The John Madejski Art Gallery 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..
The Exhibition Gallery houses 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.
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