Did you know that 10 miles from Reading are the ruins of a Roman town? Near the village of Silchester are the remains of Calleva Atrebatum, the Roman regional capital. Since 1891 Reading Museum has displayed artefacts excavated from the town.
Reading Museum’s new project ‘Roman Britain - Reimagined in Reading’ is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project aims to connect a wider range of people to Reading’s Roman heritage by reinterpreting the museum’s important archaeological collections. We plan to create exciting gallery displays, new learning resources and run activities that explore the cultural diversity of Roman Britain.
This redesign of the current gallery will be an opportunity to display the museum’s Iron Age and Roman collections from the Roman town of Calleva and finds from the surrounding area, including Reading itself (yes, the Romans were in Reading as well!).
Visitors in the Silchester Gallery
Consultation - what you told us!
We are consulting a wide range of people and organisations with an interest in the project. These include museum visitors, families, young people, refugees, volunteers, teachers, academics, decision-makers and disability groups. We have asked them about the current Roman gallery and about the experiences and activities they would like to see and do in a new gallery and in the community.
Community feedback
We took artefacts out into the community with our ‘Museum on Wheels’ outreach programme in low-income neighbourhoods. Here is what they thought…
You never know with museums. They’ve got all glass cases and kids like to touch and do things. You want to be sure that there are things for them to do if you go all that way
parent - Museums on Wheels
The Roman gallery is really good. I go there all the time. It’s quiet and calm and I just like looking at the artefacts. I know it has to change though. My younger siblings think it is boring and they need more things that grab and keep their attention. Don’t make it too loud and noisy though, it needs quiet too
teenager - Museums on Wheels
I chose the real artefacts became they are old and they are real. That makes them different to everything else on the list.
child - Museums on Wheels
Organisations feedback
We have held special events to talk to people supported by organisations including Berkshire Vision, Autism Berkshire and Care4Calais.
I’d like a tactile map of Silchester. Have tactile elements of walls, buildings, etc, on the paddles.
visitor - visually impaired
Everyone likes to touch objects. Both adults and children benefit from touching. It helps you understand more.
visitor - Care4Calais
3D objects feedback
3D models created for handling use are another way to connect with our Roman past. In 2024 we digitally scanned some real Roman objects to make 3D digital model, you can find out more in our Roman Silchester in 3D blog. This year we 3D printed these models so we could use these replicas, alongside their originals, in consultation sessions and a test display in the Silchester Gallery. Here is what some community members have told us…
Whole objects are better as it's hard for visually impaired to imagine full objects – fragments should come alongside a full reconstruction
visitor - visually impaired
It brings the objects to life. I wouldn’t be able to see the objects inside the glass but I now know what they look and feel like!!
visitor - visually impaired
It is not a problem for me that these are replicas: I love to have the opportunity to handle objects.
visitor - visually impaired
It's good to see the original next to the replica, and important objects as well as everyday
teenager - Youth Panel
Testing 3D replicas in the Silchester Gallery, March 2025
Results of consultation
We want to shape the design of the future gallery using community feedback. Our community and interpretation experts at Julia Holberry Associates and Equal Studio have helped gather these comments and recommendations to develop the activity and interpretation plans. These plans will be part of our final funding application to the Heritage Fund.
Since the existing Silchester gallery was developed (between 1993 and 1995), extensive research has highlighted the diverse population of Roman Britain. This is not currently portrayed in the gallery. This project is an opportunity to explore the diversity of Reading’s Roman heritage and its international connections, using findings from the University of Reading’s investigations, as well as widening engagement with Reading’s diverse communities. Calleva’s population was culturally and ethnically diverse, originating from across the ancient world. The reimagined gallery and learning resources will highlight this diversity. We are working with leading academics from the University to make sure we using the very latest research.
The project will also be a chance to improve the old display cases and lighting, which are barriers to the access and enjoyment of our audiences, attracting frequent negative feedback. We also want to provide more opportunities to explore the Roman past, through object handling, interactives, smells, sounds and film, all things that you have told us you would like in the new gallery.
We hope that through consultation, activities and volunteering, people will feel more connected to their local community and heritage.
Members of the Museum Youth Panel give their views on the Silchester Gallery, March 2025
Thank you - next steps
Thanks to everyone who has responded to our questions and shared their views. This consultation contributes to the Museum’s detailed project proposal for the delivery phase application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This will be submitted in summer 2025.
Also thanks to Museums Partnership Reading for funding the scanning and 3D printing of the replica objects.
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.
