Museum History

Restoration: The Museum of Reading

1993 The first of the new Museum galleries is opened, telling the Story of Reading and displaying the Bayeux Tapestry facsimile. The museum is renamed as the 'Museum of Reading'.

1995 The Silchester Gallery and the Special Exhibitions Gallery open.

1996 School loans Service relocates to Museum of Reading from Yeomanry House.

1996 The Thames Water Collection (previously the Thames Conservancy Collection) was donated to the Museum by Thames Water.

1997 Museum is awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the final phase of restoration. Work starts in 1998 restoring the Concert Hall and creating six new galleries.

2000 The current galleries were opened by Chris Smith MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports.