Reading Museum's Roman Britain Reimagined in Reading project is developing plans to refresh the Museum's Roman Silchester Gallery to tell new stories based on the most recent archaeological research by the University of Reading and to enhance the visitor experience.
The project was made possible by a development grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are developing our plans and will submit a delivery application in summer 2025.
Below you can find out more about our Roman activities, events, displays and consultations in 2025:
Discovering Reading Romans with Reading Libraries - February 2025
Join Museums Partnership Reading to discover more about Romans through craft, stories and local artefacts. Add your voice to the development of the Silchester Gallery at Reading Museum containing finds excavated at the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum.
Free event for families and all ages, booking is not required
Southcote Library – Sat 15 Feb 2025, 11.00am-1.00pm
Whitley Library – Tues 18 Feb 2025, 1.00pm-3.00pm
Museums on Wheels is our hands-on outreach programme that takes Reading Museum and The Museum of English Rural Life on the road to events across Reading’s communities.
Roman activities - February Half-Term 2025
Families Roman Paw Trail
Drop-in throughout February half term, 15 to 22 Feb
£1, pay on the day
A Roman Apothecary Herb Garden
Tuesday 18 February
All ages, families, 1-hour sessions, see the what's on page to book
Roman Silchester Talks - 15 Mar, 12 Apr, 10 May 2025
A series of three talks at Reading Museum & Town Hall, by Professor Michael Fulford CBE, FBA, FSA, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading. Professor Fulford specialises in the British Iron Age, Roman Britain and landscape archaeology.
£12 each (or £30 for all three).
To book and find about more click below:
Talk 1: The Origins of Roman Silchester
Talk 2: Silchester: Life in the Roman City
Talk 3: Silchester: The End of the Roman City
Supported by the Friends of Reading Museum.
Becoming Roman display - until 15 March
This small pop-up display in the Welcome Gallery features finds from the University of Reading excavations at Silchester, complementing our permanent galleries that explore the Roman town of Calleva.
In association with Hampshire Cultural Trust and Professor Mike Fulford, University of Reading.
Roman Life Learning Sessions for Home Schooled Children 2025
Reading Museum is piloting a series of formal learning sessions for home schooled children on Roman life in 2025.
For information and booking see the schools pages
Forthcoming sessions:
Roman Life Session
Monday 28th April 2024
10:00-11:45
Suitable for primary school aged children
(booking deadline 17/03/2024)
Share your views on our Roman Gallery - online survey
We are making plans to refresh our Silchester Gallery, which explores finds from the renowned collection of artefacts excavated at the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum in modern-day Silchester. We will tell new stories based on the most recent archaeological research by the University of Reading and want to enhance the visitor experience.
You can share your views about our ideas in this short online survey.
Self guided Silchester Walks
Reading Basingstoke Community Rail Partnership's website has a series of guided walks from Bramley and Mortimer stations that link to the Roman town site at Silchester.
This project is only possible with a development grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are developing our plans and will submit a delivery application in summer 2025.
…yet we can gain some idea of the richness of the building [Reading Abbey] from a visit to Reading Museum – a place by all means to be visited, in regard of its magnificent collection of Roman remains from Silchester.
M.R. James - from Abbeys, 1925
