6-15th September 2024: Heritage Open Days

Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

Heritage Open Days main website
Events in Berkshire
Events in Reading

BAS members may be especially interested in this event:

Reading Museum Store Tours

Join us behind the scenes at our store in Whitley. This year’s theme is Roman Silchester, looking at objects connecting the regional capital to the wider Roman empire. Tours are in small groups led by the Reading Museum team and last about an hour.

Saturday 5th October 2024: Archaeology in Berkshire 2024

Berkshire Archaeological Society Day School

10am to 4:15pm

St Nicolas Church Hall, West Mills, Newbury RG14 5HG

All welcome. £15: book online or pay at the door

This day school brings together professional archaeologists, archaeological societies and those interested in archaeology in Berkshire and surrounding counties to hear reports about the latest projects.

PROGRAMME

10:00Welcome 
Andrew Hutt, Chair, Berkshire Archaeological Society
10.05Recent work in West Berkshire
Sarah Orr, Senior Archaeologist, West Berkshire Council
10:35 Recent discoveries in East Berkshire
Fiona McDonald, Berkshire Archaeology
11:05COFFEE – 30 mins
11:35Recently found portable antiquities in Berkshire
Phil Smither, PAS Officer Berkshire
12:05 Making the Pennies Count…How can ’big data’ analysis of material culture be used to enhance the characterisation of function and character of Romano-British settlement across West Berkshire?
Keith Abbott, Berkshire Archaeological Society
12.35LUNCH – 1 hour 
13:35Cursus Publicus 
Peter Clifford, Berkshire Archaeological Society
14:05Old Windsor
Darko Maricevic, University of Reading
14:35TEA – 30 mins
15:05 Royal Observer Post, Arborfield
Bob Clarke, Wessex Archaeology
15:35 -16.00Questions and Conclusion
Andrew Hutt, Chair, Berkshire Archaeological Society
Book now

Latest on Reading Gaol

A prison where celebrated Irish writer Oscar Wilde was once an inmate has been sold to an educational charity, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said. (press release 11th January 2024)

Reading Jail formally closed in January 2014 and has been empty ever since. 

A campaign to turn the Grade II listed building into an arts and community centre was supported by celebrities including Stephen Fry, Kate Winslet and Dame Judi Dench.

The government said the jail had been sold to the Ziran Education Foundation.

It said the charity’s plans for the site included an educational centre incorporating a museum and exhibition space.

Read the latest from MP Matt Rodda here

BAJ086 Published

Berkshire Archaeological Journal Volume 86 is now published.

A pdf of the full list of contents can be downloaded below

Copies will be distributed to all eligible members and subscribers.

Further copies may be purchased at the following prices:

  • Members: £16 + £4 postage and packing
  • Non-members: £20 + £4 postage and packing (overseas rates on application)

To purchase email journal(at)berksarch.co.uk (for security we are not publishing email links – please retype replacing “at” with @)