|
The Museum acquires objects for the collection to document and celebrate Reading,
its people, its environment and its surroundings, and to provide inspiration for life-long
learning and creativity.
2010 Elections collecting project
Members of Reading University’s photographic society were supplied with official press passes and given a brief to capture the atmosphere of the hotly contested 2010 parliamentary elections for Reading East and West.
Six photographic prints have been acquired by the museum as a result of this project. These will sit alongside the campaign rosettes, signed by candidates, and the ephemera donated by agents of all the political parties.
Object Number: 2010.61.2
Further Information
The above image shows 'Labour Dreams Shattered' by Russell Edes. Party agents can observe the votes being counted. As the evening progresses it becomes clear; Labour is losing Reading West. The seat was taken by the Conservative's Alok Sharma. Reading East was held by Rob Wilson, also Conservative.
Russell Ede, Reading University Photographic Society, said:
“I was trying to capture the mood of the people and the supporters, people don’t see the frantic re-counts and the tiredness; they only hear the announcements on the radio with their breakfast the next day”
Berkshire Brewery Beer 1980 - 2010
This commemorative bottle of fine beer has been produced to mark the end of production at Berkshire Brewery in Whitley that closed in April 2010. The label has a picture of the brewery that opened in 1980. It was the last of Reading’s major traditional manufacturers, known as the 3Bs, to close.
Object Number: 2010.49.1
Further Information
The label says ‘Friends and colleagues, raise a glass one final time, to celebrate over 30 years of quality brewing and packaging and the skill, spirit and camaraderie of the people who have made it happen - Here's to the future and cheers to the past’.
The Simonds beer hop leaf symbol and the Courage logo on the back label points to the long tradition of industrial scale brewing in Reading, dating back to 1785 when William Blackall Simonds established a brewery in Broad Street, near the St Mary’s Butts junction.
Boar's Head pub sign
The Boar's Head was a well-known Reading landmark until the pub was demolished in October 2003. The Museum saved this famous pub sign from the Friar Street site and it has just gone on display for the first time after cleaning and conservation.
Object Number: 2003.317.1
Further Information
The head was cleaned and conserved by Louise Ashon of the City and Guilds Art School, London (pictured above). It is made of oolitic limestone and was frequently repainted when it was in place on the pub wall. It was gilded with gold or metal leaf at least three times and traces of one of these layers can be seen showing through the worn surface of the latest paint layer.
Documents suggest that there had been a public house on the Friar Street site since the late seventeenth century, but it was not known as the Boar’s Head until 1760. By the 1850s it was the terminus for local carriers, who took goods and messages to and from neighbouring villages.
The Head is currently on display on the Museum's ground floor.
Object numbers are unique to each item and are used for purposes of identification. Should you have a query concerning an object on the site please quote this number when contacting us.
|
