Latest Posts
-
David Stack on Going to University
As part of the University’s Centenary Celebrations, a team led by David Stack in History has been researching the experiences of students and staff from working-class backgrounds at the University of Reading. Beginning with the widening participation roots of the University… Continue reading
-
Britain’s Atomic Bombs: Operation Grapple
In light of recent news coverage, our MA student, Hannah Grimshaw, reflects on her grandfather’s experiences of atomic testing on Christmas Island. Operation Grapple was a series of nine British hydrogen and atomic bomb tests that took place on Christmas… Continue reading
-
The Liddesdale
In a second blog on our river Thames, following the blog from the country archivist, Jacqui Turner and Emily Astor glide on the river with the National Trust at Cliveden aboard the Liddesdale, Nancy Astor’s electric canoe. Emily and Jacqui… Continue reading
-
Relics of Hiroshima – Lessons on the 80th Anniversary
MA student Ruth Weber reflects on one of the most moving collections held in the archives at the University of Reading: tile fragments gathered from the ruins of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, 6 August 1945. Tiles. What comes… Continue reading
-
Long Read: Our Outreach Roundup – Summer 2025
The past few months have been busy for both staff and PhD students in the department. This summer, we played host to students who visited campus to take part in various activities. On June 10th, the department hosted Andover College… Continue reading
-
Finding History in the Humble: A Medieval Pewter Chalice
Our MA student, Maebh Springbett, examines a medieval pewter chalice held in the collection of Reading Museum. In the centre of a dusty cave lit by dancing flames, the knight sits waiting. He is flanked by a grand display of… Continue reading
-
Our River Thames
Our friend Mark Stevens, the County Archivist at the Royal Berkshire Archives, introduces their new exhibition that opened on Monday 9th June. The Thames may, at first sight, look uncontrolled. And it can be. In 1519, it was considered to… Continue reading
-
‘Bells, Flags – and Bathing Costumes – in Big Procession’: British Street Parties
PhD student Fiona Lane shares some of her own research in the aftermath of the VE80 celebrations, focusing on very different types of street parties: those hosted by rent strikers in the 1930s. ‘It will be like Coronation Day again!’,… Continue reading
-
Conclave
Professor Rebecca Rist, Professor of Medieval History, explains how the College of Cardinals will elect a new Pope. Pope Francis I – his Legacy Pope Francis has been in office since 2013. He chose the pontifical name ‘Francis’ after the… Continue reading
-
Women in Our History: Sarah Ann Blenkinsopp
Our PhD student, Fiona Lane, shares what she has learned about the woman who rasied her grandfather Jack. Sarah Blenkinsopp’s (1857-1937) story starts, for me, with the tragic death of my grandfather’s parents. It is very unlikely that Sarah would… Continue reading
READING HISTORY 