As The Great British Bake-Off returns, some viewers may question their own culinary skills. For some young people, developing skills […]

Pass’d home: Victorian heir hunters  Staff were fascinated by the story revealed while cataloguing a miscellaneous collection recently.  When a […]

Continuing our blog series written by volunteer, Katherine Bett, about the diaries of Winifred Hoyle (1880-1952). Catch up on Part 1 […]

If you grew up in the UK, you’ve probably heard of the Swing Riots of 1830, a wave of rural […]

Whether you’ve created one to capture a special holiday or to remember the first few months of a child’s life, […]

What do Lord Kitchener, Mark Twain, Arthur Balfour and innumerable royals from across the world have in common?  The answer […]

This months highlight explores the lifecycle of the record through the lens of Reading Festival ephemera.

Part 2 in the blog series looking at the diaries of Winifred Hoyle focusing on health.

Discover how the American War of Independence impacted the transportation of Berkshire criminals.

Part 2 of a series exploring the descendants of the Swing Rioters of 1830.

Learn how George William White found himself in Reading Gaol after taking part in the Great Silver Robbery.

Part 1 in a blog series looking at the diaries of Winifred Hoyle.

See how Walter Vernon Rivers and his friends spent a bank holiday in 1893.

How the cartwheeling boys sculpture was made.

The story of three different thefts that all resulted in the culprits being imprisoned in Reading Gaol.

Part 1 of a series exploring the descendants of the Swing Rioters of 1830.

Monthly highlight exploring what an inventory can tell us about the lives of the wealthy in early-Edwardian England.

Sellotape is hated by archivists and conservators - why? Find out more in this blog!

The story of the first Penitents at Clewer House of Mercy, and how they transformed their lives.

The story of Michael Ostrog's crime that led to him being imprisoned in Reading Gaol.

Final part of the Wonderful Wallingford series looking at public health and housing.

How a logbook can show us how big events impacted small communities.

How records were used to resolve a 17th century pew dispute.

Berkshire in the Big Freeze of 1962-3

How new mums were encouraged to approach motherhood in 1966

Blog 2 written by Going Public project students with a Winter Cheese recipe from a Georgian cookbook.

Blog 1 written by Going Public project students about a Georgian cookbook mystery.

The second part of a story behind a girl in a picture dressed as a fairy and her later life as a woman in the First World War

The first part of a story behind a girl in a picture dressed as a fairy and a look at her early life

Costume designs for Wokingham Theatre's Dick Whittington in 1963

The fourth article in a series looking at Wallingford Borough records

A look at the authorship of two recently catalogued manuscripts

A sale catalogue for 17 Castle Street which reveals its diverse uses

A list of rules for Jacksons' staff and the ethos of an era

Read about two Reading regattas that date back to the Victorian era.

A sale catalogue reveals how Belmont House in Wantage was demolished

Learn about how a humble diary prompted research into a man partly responsible for the death of a King of England.

The story behind Reading’s 1908 marathon race

Learn more about Ted Light, lock keeper at Sonning lock, and his wonderful gardens.

A look at the early designs for Forbury Garden, Reading

A look at sale catalogues and the potential discoveries within

An insight into what was is like for our seventeenth century counterparts experiencing the Black Death?

A closer look at a unique bookbinding

Delving into a recipe book reveals more than just food and drink

A look at the life of a community focused Berkshire woman

How a name on a photo led to discovering the life of a female composer and musician

The third in a series looking at property of the borough of Wallingford

How a curious note in a parish register revealed an extreme event in Berkshire

How ice spelt disaster until the Ashbury Gritting machine was used

The fascinating details that can be found in letters written home during the First World War

How first-hand knowledge of events captured in records can tell a deeper story

How detective work on a photograph revealed all was not as it seemed

How a Berkshire hotel promoted itself to French tourists

The second article in a series looking at Wallingford Borough records

A look at some of the records of Reading shopfitters, Elliotts

The story of Frank Close, long distance runner from Newbury who competed at the 1936 Olympics.

The story behind analysing anonymous handwriting

Campaigning for women's suffrage from Cornwall to London

A triumph in the face of adversity

A look at Sydney Spencer’s pre First World War letters

A spotlight on Slough building plans

A look at a local Board of Guardians' disagreement with the Poor Law Commissioners

Part one of a series of blogs looking at the Wallingford borough collection

How an eighteenth century astronomical discovery has a Berkshire connection

The story behind a girl in a picture dressed as a 'water baby'

How a humble looking autograph book reveals more than just signatures

A look at a self published journal from late Victorian Windsor

The final instalment looking at two Reading magazines

A short piece giving a sixth former's insight into 1980s Eton

The innovations of Nancy Pethick and the Windsor and Ascot Driving Group

A history of the Fielden clock, Bracknell, and Dr Edward Fielden

How a performing dog healed a young widow’s heart and inspired an animal sanctuary

A look at the story behind Reading FC's first black footballer

A look at activities of a local residents association

How the people of Berkshire celebrated the end of WWII following Japan's surrender

William Wilberforce's involvement in the secession of the congregation of a Reading church.

How a local entrepreneur transformed the festival scene

How Berkshire connections played a part in the early days of the England team

Discover a little about the Society, what it does and how you can join

A look at educational advice in wartime Newbury

The story of Anna Rojek, a passenger on HMT Empire Windrush, and her journey to Berkshire

A look at Harvey De Pass, a passenger on HMT Empire Windrush, who became Reading's first Community Relations Officer.

A look at how a landscape architect transformed Bracknell

Part two of a look at two Reading-based magazines

A look at an early form of seeking dating opportunities

A look at the three Kings named Charles from the archives

How a perk of buying a suit in the 1900s resulted in a photograph

A look at how Berkshire has two very old football clubs

How women played an important role in Bracknell's corporation

How a pictorial survey reveals school life and subjects for boys and girls in Reading in 1934

How the discovery of braille amongst the archives provides insight into the author and the work

A closer look at the illustrations of a particular type of deed

A look at two locally produced magazines in Reading

The Christmas manuscripts of a local Berkshire resident.

How scrapbooks reveal the musical life of an inspiring woman

Vincents appearances in the news and other motoring stories

A look at a nineteenth century bicycle patent

A look into how the arrival of the telephone in Berkshire was made possible

New insights into Wantage history from the clients of Collard & Co

How VJ Day was celebrated in Newbury and other Berkshire places.

A short biography of Eliza Chattaway (1870-1956), former Headteacher of Redlands Infants School, Reading, and a pioneer for children's education, by Leah Rashid

The early history of some of Britain's best sprinters in the 1970s.

A deeper look into what can be found in one specific collection

How newspapers reveal the long connection between two towns in Reading and Germany

A closer look at coronation celebrations in Berkshire in 1953

How Berkshire helped look after refugee children from the Spanish Civil War

How Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was awarded the highest honour Windsor could give her

Local newspaper reveals how a local town showcased its local industries

How a group of Windsor men solved the post-war housing shortage for themselves by working together

How a local school boy turned into a famous actor and director

How newspapers can reveal information on people who are not always represented in other sources.

How the coming together of families through history can result in an interesting array of records

How one of Charles Dickens' characters has links with Berkshire

A look at when the Royal Berkshrie Hospital first opened

The rise and decline of the New Year greeting card

Bringing Christmas cheer to the locals

Children from The Foundling Hospital in London buried in Newbury.

How diaries reveal the work that goes into making a garden, even during the Autumn

The memoirs of local typist and writer, Winifred Darter

A pet canary suffers a tragic fate on holiday

The life of Arthur Jermy Mounteney-Jephson (1859–1908) in Africa, Ireland and Berkshire

How Reading Abbey and the town argued over control

A look back on what we've achieved during what has been an unusual year

Cholsey Board School needlework books

How a Berkshire chip shop business survived it all

Phoebe Cusden's Goodwill Mission to China in 1955

How a rise in outdoor activities inspired us to take a look at Maidenhead’s longstanding cycling club

How Reading's Cattle Market was the place to be to sell cattle

How keepers dealt with the keeping of wild animals and the dangers involved

A special order of service from Reading’s Emmanuel Methodist Church

After months of closure the BRO has reopened, but what's it really like?

Suffragette material discovered amongst theatre collections

Wartime innovations in blood transfusion

A remarkable plan of Bagnor Mill in Speen which later became Watermill Theatre

Evacuees at Oakfield Hostel, Wokingham, celebrate VE Day

The County Archivist tours the empty building and reflects on current events

A few drawings for you to colour in

An exhibition of Aldermaston Pottery in Tokyo that did not go to plan

How a miniature snail almost brought down the Newbury bypass

A Berkshire woman's account of escaping the invasion of Poland in 1939

Prisoners of War are given some Christmas cheer prior to repatriation

Hunting diaries can reveal personal histories of local families

A parish register with a royal connection

How one father ensured that his illegitimate offspring were looked after

How a local theatre aimed to raise money by reading all of Shakespeare's works

Ordinary receipts can reveal a lot about the life of a family

How people celebrated the end of World War One in Berkshire

How a bazaar helped to raise vital fund for a new school in Windsor

Beautiful silken map found in the collections

Lady's diary provides insight into eighteenth century health

Insight into street literature printed in early modern Europe

A look at images of Queen Elizabeth I between 1559 and 1603

How school records can reveal more about ancestors

Rejoicing and reflecting on armistice by the people of Berkshire

A look inside a nineteenth century momento

How private letters can reveal influential connections

Reading doctor manufactures a pill for female 'issues' from his home

How repair work provides access to very large map

Revealing the history of Reading Abbey from the records

Dress fabrics from Royal weddings of the eighteenth century

One Reading School boy's point of view of the London 1948 Olympics

Warmer weather spelled disaster for Reading in 1947

Escaping the cold winter months to far flung places in 1912

Beautiful illuminated testimonial for Windsor Mayor very timely considering he became a Knight in the 1920 New Year Honours list

A copy of the yellow pages aids a small boy in his quest for a Christmas kiss

A brilliant display of fireworks in 1850 benefits orphan children

Signs of the Reformation reflected in local accounts

Travel documentation in the nineteenth century

How girls were invited to dance with American soldiers, as long as they behaved appropriately

Insight into aspects of life for a married woman in the Georgian period

Garden show not just about produce

Unusual wrapping used to cover a seal

Discovery of amazing artefact amongst the collections

Historic register reveals a rather risqué name

How a state lottery could change a person's life in the nineteenth century

Giving up alcohol as a way of life

How a legacy provided Christmas cheer for the poor

Why conkers were collected during World War Two

Ghostly goings on are not always what they seem

The 'Wedding Observer' provides visual insight to the Royal wedding through words

How Coley Park looked in an early 18th century engraving

As Wimbledon draws to a close in July, it is likely that people will become enthusiastic in taking up the sport.

It is thought that the Slough Arts Festival began in the 1940s. The aim was to enable local people to enjoy the arts and take part in artistic activities.

The north of Bracknell was made up of clay. Not just any old clay, but good quality clay that could be made into bricks.

Theatre in the Elizabethan period was not the pleasurable experience we may think of today.

G Turner Davis was a local man from Donnington Gardens, Reading who produced a compilation of astronomical sketches as a guide for novice astronomers.

Canon Long was rector of Wokingham All Saints in 1904.

Albert Ernest Cusden was one of nine children of the Cusden family of Reading.

In December it is not uncommon to purchase a diary for the following year.

Amongst the archives at the BRO we have a wonderful little notebook from 1941 containing the memoirs of S. T. Mann.

The Women's Institute celebrated its Centenary in 2015, but back in 1965 it celebrated its Golden Jubilee.

BRO has a local rugby fixture list which comes from Courtenay Lodge School in Sutton Courtenay between 1924 and 1928.

The Berkshire Sun and Leisure Club was a naturist society founded in 1976.

An 1815 journal belonging to Lieutenant Edward Green reveals some startling contrasts between fighting and taking in the sights (reference: D/EE/F85).

War-time petrol shortages meant more and more people resorted to using horse drawn carriages as a means of getting about.

The Germans finally surrendered on 7 May 1945 bringing an end to the Second World War.

Edwin Price had been sent to Moulsford Asylum following an attempted suicide at Reading Prison in June 1902.

The reasons for admission into the workhouse varied immensely.

Postcards are often dismissed as ephemera and not always given the credit they deserve.

The Berkshire County Ladies Golf Association (BCLGA) held its first meeting in 1923.

Reading residents will know that the iconic (but sadly unlisted) Metal Box building by the station is no more.

When we think about the economic situation we are currently in, we may think how hard things are.

Welford Park, new home of The Great British Bake Off, has been no stranger to oven anxiety this summer.

Crossing the Thames at Pangbourne, Whitchurch is the only road bridge between Caversham and Goring.

Showing support for soldiers during World War One was very important to the people of Britain.

As Reading Football Club prepares to gain a new owner, here is a look back at an earlier leading light in its history.

‘This booklet has been compiled with the object of helping launch owners to enjoy the river without inadvertently breaking the Conservators’

On 1st June 1914 the church of Wargrave was set on fire.

This letter - written on cheap, wartime paper - was sent by Percy Spencer of Cookham as he prepared to enlist to fight in World War One.

Stephen Mundy was a tenant farmer on Kennington Farm, in Kennington in the Victorian period.

This little parchment records the sale of a ‘tenement’ – a house – in Abingdon on 29 September 1447.

Who remembers a Clifford’s Dairies milkfloat coming down the road?

Shaw House was built in 1581 by Thomas Dolman, a clothier and landowner in Newbury.

One of the drawbacks of working in archives is that the news seldom surprises you.

The Women's Volunteer Service (WVS) was set up in 1938 to assist with Air Raid Precautions during the Second World War.

This 200 year-old plan is also in the 'Charter 750' pages, but it is worthy of its own highlight page.

Even before synthetic phonics, teachers were well aware that young children would benefit from some sort of aid for learning their letters and words.

Many people will be going away for their summer break this month and a great deal will probably take a flight on an aeroplane.

Broadmoor Hospital celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

On Easter Monday 1916, Dublin was occupied by armed rebels calling for an Irish Republic.

"fine with a lot of sunshine, but cold".

During the First World War, about 16,000 men were recorded as conscientious objectors.

On Wednesday, 10 February 1943 Newbury and Reading both experienced their most significant bombing raid of World War 2.

On the freezing morning of Tuesday 18 January 1881, haulier Robert Thatcher bade farewell to four horse and carts.

This month we take a look back at a local newspaper for tips on Christmas in the modern Georgian era.

This is the volume of memoirs of William Savory of Brightwalton, an apprentice for an apothecary in Newbury

This month’s highlight shows the interior of the chapel at one of Berkshire’s lost buildings.

This photograph was taken as a house-warmer for Arthur and Ethel Sewell.

The second of our Olympic highlights again concentrates on long distance running, but this month we see how a local runner had his own moment of glory.

Here’s something from the very first London Olympics, which took place in 1908.

You may have seen the popular BBC programme 'Call the Midwife' recently.

This month’s highlight gives you an insight into the Edwardian approach to alcoholism and addiction.

Ever wondered how an institutional bun was made?

Following on from our Dickens document, this month’s highlight relates to another well-known anniversary being commemorated this year: that of Scott of the Antarctic.

Tuesday, 7 February 2012 sees the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, and this year there will be a number of events to mark the occasion.

This hardy looking bunch were members of the Reading Winter Bathers which was a group associated with Reading Swimming Club.

This is something we 'discovered' during reboxing at stocktake, amongst papers from the Bouverie-Pusey family.

Plenty Ltd was a thriving engineering company based in Newbury which made agricultural equipment during the 1800s.

This building plan was submitted to Wallingford Borough's councillors for approval in June 1913.

This sample packaging for Oxo cubes comes from the archive of the Berkshire Printing Company.

Amongst the Lenthall family papers at the Berkshire Record Office, was a letter dated 19 March 1610 from a (Doctor) Thomas Fryar

This document from the Benyon family papers records the sale of Francis Hawes's estate in Englefield in 1722.

If you too are in pain at the end of the 2010/11 football season - my problem is Reading FC - then how about this to put life into perspective.

This document featured on Radio 4's The Real Apprentice on 2 May, so it seems only right that it should become this month's highlight.

This photograph is of a replica of the cake that Huntley and Palmers of Reading made for the marriage

On 6 May 1795, the Berkshire Court of Quarter Sessions held a special meeting at The Pelican Inn in Speenhamland, near Newbury.

Maidenhead (Road) Bridge was opened on 5 May 1777. The project had not been without pain.

Central Cinema Playhouse and Cafe in Friar Street, Reading, often known as the ABC Cinema