West Berkshire Museum

We're in the run up to the festive period so why not treat yourself or someone else to an early Christmas present, particularly if you or they have an interest in local history. Tues 14 Jan until Tues 11 March 2025, 1.30pm-3.30pm for eight weeks, West Berkshire Museum will be hosting a local history course:
Cloth, Charter and Religious Change: the Newbury area in the Tudor period.
Tutor: David Peacock.
The course covers the Tudor cloth industry, with locally produced cloth exported across Europe; religious persecution and upheaval as it affected the Newbury area; surviving buildings from the Tudor period; changes in local government with the grant of Newbury’s first charter; and an investigation into the historical sources for the Tudor period, including an opportunity to look at Tudor wills.
David Peacock has researched, written about and taught the history of West Berkshire and the Newbury area for many years.
A place on this eight week course is £85 and can be booked here: https://buff.ly/33Ld6q0

THERE ARE STILL A FEW PLACES LEFT on Mini Messy Museum, our term-time under 5s sessions starting this week (Wed 6th Nov) and running for five consecutive weeks (every Wed morning 10.15am-10.45am). This week's session includes making a woolly mammoth face mask from paint sticks, artificial hair and glue as well as a fun treasure hunt to find the object connected with the craft. Interested? For more info or to book a place (£12 for all five sessions): https://buff.ly/33Ld6q0

Mini Messy Museum, West Berkshire Museum, 10.15am-10.45am, £12 for all five sessions. Held over five consecutive Wednesday mornings starting on 6th November is our art and craft session for 2 to 5 years. The sessions will be themed around objects in the permanent exhibition.
For more info/to book a place for your child (accompanying adult is free), please go to: https://buff.ly/3UI4afy
Session dates: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th November and 4th December.

Dragon hunt! TODAY at West Berkshire Museum! Fri 1 Nov, 5pm-7pm, FREE, drop-in (no need to book). Some of our dragons are missing! Family-friendly event involving a dragon hunt through a dark or dimly lit museum – please bring a torch. Last entry is at 6.40pm. The cafe and shop are closed during the event.

Seeking a fun family craft activity TODAY (Fri 1 Nov)? We've Messy Museum Morning at West Berkshire Museum, 10am-1pm, drop-in (no need to book). Ancient artefacts -- choose an ancient Egypt wooden stand-up shape – the Sphinx, a pyramid, or the god Anubis (subject to availability). Decorate with paint sticks. £2.50pp. Last entry to the activity is 12.45pm (and an adult must remain with the child throughout). Dress for mess!

We've a Messy Museum Morning at West Berkshire Museum TOMORROW (Fri 1 Nov), 10am-1pm, drop-in (no need to book). Ancient artefacts -- choose an ancient Egypt wooden stand-up shape – the Sphinx, a pyramid, or the god Anubis (subject to availability). Decorate with paint sticks. £2.50pp. Last entry to the activity is 12.45pm (and an adult must remain with the child throughout). Dress for mess!

TODAY (Wednesday 30 October) at the Family Activity Day at *SHAW HOUSE* we'll be decorating a ceramic pumpkin hanging decoration with porcelain pens. Once finished, take home to display for Halloween. Drop-in (no need to book) between 10am and 3pm (last entry is 2.45pm). £2.50pp (adult must remain with the child throughout). Dress for mess!

To celebrate the release of : Roman Britain Gets Rowdy, we're joining the Totally Chaotic History Museum Trail from & ! There’s also an opportunity to win a Double Art Pass (plus kids) courtesy of .

From 26 October – 3 November, explore West Berkshire Museum to learn more about the intriguing objects that have survived from Roman Britain and the people who used and made them. Complete the activity sheet to receive your free sticker!

Design your own mosaic and share your drawing on X or Instagram with the hashtag and tag for a chance to win a copy of the book and a Double Art Pass plus Kids!

https://buff.ly/33Ld6q0

Dragon hunt! Fri 1 Nov, 5pm-7pm, West Berkshire Museum, FREE, drop-in (no need to book).
Some of our dragons are missing! Family-friendly event involving a dragon hunt through a dark or dimly lit museum – please bring a torch. Last entry to the event is at 6.40pm.
Blaze, the museum dragon, and his dragon friends have decided to play hide and seek in the museum – help Blaze to count the tiny glow-in-the-dark dragons as well as to find his dragon friends and, the greatest treasure of all, a precious dragon egg.

We've a Messy Museum Morning at West Berkshire Museum next week during the half term holiday: Fri 1 Nov, 10am-1pm, drop-in (no need to book). Ancient artefacts -- choose an ancient Egypt wooden stand-up shape – the Sphinx, a pyramid, or the god Anubis (subject to availability). Decorate with paint sticks. £2.50pp. Last entry to the activity is 12.45pm (and an adult must remain with the child throughout). Dress for mess!

One of our volunteers chose this rushlight, which was designed to hold a piece of dried rush that had been soaked in fat, it would burn to provide light for a short time. The volunteer was inspired to choose this because he had worked in the lighting industry, and wrote a few of his thoughts about the contrast between early lighting and modern means:
The flick of a light switch nearly always guarantees illumination or does it?
Occasionally this is just a shower of sparks if the system has a fault.
In the days of the rush it could mean venting your anger on a tinder box while trying to get a spark.
Even being successful could cause frustration as the ignited rush goes out as you are walking away from it.
Imagination can be used to create lots of amusing scenarios. Try it.
View this item in Volunteers Choice, which runs until 24 August 2025.
Image of NEBYM:1987.38 West Berkshire Museum.

Mon 28 Oct, 10.30am-12pm, free, booked session, West Berkshire Museum, LGBTQ+ family morning. Join us for a relaxed morning in the Long Room, providing a safe space for local LGBTQ+ families to meet one another and be involved in a craft led by Newbury Pride. Please book a free place here: https://buff.ly/33Ld6q0

LAST CHANCE to join us at West Berkshire Museum on Wednesday 23 October, 7pm, for an in-person talk on the Art and Architecture in Ancient Egypt (rescheduled).
Ancient Egyptian art is instantly recognisable and a famous characteristic of this enthralling civilisation. This talk by Beth Asbury is an overview of 2D and 3D art, tomb, temple, and domestic architecture. Come along to find out more about a statue that influenced Henry Moore and the second largest religious complex in the world. Learn to tell the difference between a naophorous and a stelophorous statue, as well as raised and sunken relief and where to find it.
To book a place (£5pp): https://buff.ly/33Ld6q0
Bookings close at 4pm the day before the talk.

Join us on Wednesday 23 October, 7pm, for an in-person talk:
Art and Architecture in Ancient Egypt (rescheduled)
West Berkshire Museum
Speaker: Beth Asbury (Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society)
Ancient Egyptian art is instantly recognisable and a famous characteristic of this enthralling civilisation. This talk by Beth Asbury is an overview of 2D and 3D art, tomb, temple, and domestic architecture. Come along to find out more about a statue that influenced Henry Moore and the second largest religious complex in the world. Learn to tell the difference between a naophorous and a stelophorous statue, as well as raised and sunken relief and where to find it.
To book a place (£5pp): https://buff.ly/33Ld6q0 Bookings close at 4pm the day before the talk.

Are you joining in the Totally Chaotic History Museum Trail at West Berkshire Museum this October (26th October to 3rd November)?

Share your Roman mosaic artwork on X or Instagram with the hashtag & tag for a chance to win a copy of Totally Chaotic History: Roman Britain Gets Rowdy from & an Double Art Pass + Kids – giving your family free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK as well as 50% off major exhibitions!

Don’t miss the stunning exhibition, Bologna in chiaroscuro: Between photography and iconography. Exploring Bologna's historic streets through photography, timeless maps and chronologies by Dr José Loureiro.

Runs until 3 November 2024. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm. Entry is free but donations are most welcomed.

Join us at *THATCHAM LIBRARY* TODAY (Fri 18th), 2pm-4pm, when we'll be running a booked craft afternoon (making a rainbow hanging decoration) with (as part of this year's ). Free places are limited on 3 x 30-min sessions so prior booking is essential: https://buff.ly/4gnNRAa

Join us at *THATCHAM LIBRARY* on FRIDAY (18th), 2pm-4pm, when we'll be running a *free* booked family craft afternoon with Newbury Pride (as part of this year's Thatcham Festival). Places are limited on the three 30-minute sessions so prior booking is essential. Pictured is the rainbow hanging decoration craft we'll be making. To book:
2pm-2.30pm https://buff.ly/3Zm1qtT
2.45pm-3.15pm https://buff.ly/4gjGfim
3.30pm-4pm https://buff.ly/47mD1GB