history

  • 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

    Relics of Hiroshima – Lessons on the 80th Anniversary
  • 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

    Long Read: Our Outreach Roundup – Summer 2025
  • 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

    Finding History in the Humble: A Medieval Pewter Chalice
  • 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

    Our River Thames
  • Women in Our History: Irene Davies

    The winner of our Women’s History Month competition, Part 2 student Amelia Robinson, here explores the life of Irene Davies, her great-grandmother. I am Irene Davies’ (28th January 1924 – 7th August 1995) great-granddaughter on my mother’s side of the… Continue reading

    Women in Our History: Irene Davies