Reading Museum's Roman Britain Reimagined in Reading project is developing plans to refresh the Museum's Roman Silchester Gallery to tell new stories about the Roman town of Calleva, based on the most recent archaeological research by the University of Reading, and to enhance the visitor experience.
Below you can find out more about our Roman activities, events, displays and consultations in 2025:
Visit the Silchester Gallery at Reading Museum
Reading Museum's Silchester Gallery features amazing finds from the renowned collection of artefacts excavated at the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum. Find out more on the Silchester Gallery webpage.
Your views on our Roman Gallery
We are making plans to refresh our Roman 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.
Our consultation has now closed. Thank you to everyone who shared their views and comments.
Our April 2025 blog looks at what you have told us so far
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.
The talks were very popular and all sold out, our thanks to Professor Fulford and the Friends of Reading Museum.
Supported by the Friends of Reading Museum.
Becoming Roman display - until 10 May 2025
This small pop-up display in the Welcome Gallery featured 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.
The display ended on 10 May 2025.
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
Self guided Silchester Walks and visiting Roman Calleva
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.
See https://readingbasingstokecrp.co.uk/walks/
Find out more about visiting the ruins of Roman Calleva on the English Heritage website
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.
Reading Museum is an invaluable resource for the whole county.... we have enjoyed attending workshops that have been run for our younger members and which has included giving them access to objects in the Museum’s collection - to feel and discover these items more closely. It has been a rewarding experience for those who have attended.
Berkshire Vision - Roman object handling workshop 2024
…Reading Museum – a place by all means to be visited, in regard of its magnificent collection of Roman remains from Silchester.
M.R. James - 1925