Latest news with #ReadingMuseum
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Penis count debate rages over Bayeux Tapestry
Debate is raging amongst historians over the number of penises included on the Bayeux Tapestry. The original embroidery is still kept in Bayeux, France, and depicts the Norman conquest of England, but a replica created in the late 19th Century is held at Reading Museum. Most of the penises were not transferred onto the replica by the Leek Embroidery Society, which made it, after it was given censored etchings, engravings and photos of it to work from. Oxford academic Prof George Garnett counted 93 penises in 2018 – with 88 belonging to horses and another five to men. But Dr Christopher Monk said he had counted one more on another man. Prof Garnett said he believed he was still correct and that the potential penis was the scabbard of a man's dagger because "right at its end is a yellow blob", which he took to be brass. "If you look at what are incontrovertibly penises in the tapestry, none of them have a yellow blob on the end," he told the History Extra podcast. Either way, Prof Garnett said the Bayeux Tapestry, at 70m (230ft) long and about half a metre high (1.7ft) is "by far the most splendid and largest surviving" textile art from the period. The men's penises are included in the border of the embroidery, but there is no agreement about why they are there. "It might be that [the penises] are just there for fun and for levity, that's what some scholars say," Dr David Musgrove, from the podcast, said. "Some say the figures are making some sort of commentary on the action in the main scene, some sort of subversive commentary, perhaps even casting doubt on the probity of some of the characters in the main scene. "Some people say they're something to do with Aesop's fables. "There are lots of interesting theories – we don't know really, to be honest. But it's very interesting that they're there." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Why did Victorians censor the Bayeux Tapestry? History Extra
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Reading's resilience chronicled throughout World War II
The Reading Chronicle has covered many important historical events over the 200 years it has been around. Our reporters during World War II had their hands full recording every momentous occasion in the town, many of which have since been noted by Reading Museum. The Army Comforts Depot, St Mary's Butts, had expanded to take over the adjacent drill hall and the scene was captured for the Berkshire Chronicle in January 1940. The press coverage, gave an opportunity for an appeal for socks, mufflers, mittens and gum boot stockings which were needed because of the extreme cold being faced by the troops. Instructions on knitting any of these items could be obtained from the depot. Mothers and children were evacuated to the countryside during the Second World War as it was expected that air raids were more likely to occur over cities, areas of dense population and industry. The scheme was put in place by the government in September 1939, however many of those who were evacuated went home after just a couple of weeks. The party at Olympia Ballroom on London Street was held under the auspices of Reading and District Council of Social Service and organised by Miss Z. Druitt. Mayor McIlroy was in attendance. Air Raid Precautions such as shelters were set up as a prelude to the Second World War by way of protecting and preparing civilians in the case of an air raid. The shelters were covered in earth for camouflage purposes. The Women's Land Army held a recruitment meeting at Reading Town Hall on Blagrave Street. At the time there were approximately 130 Land Girls working in Berkshire but many more were needed to cover the work usually carried out by young men in the area, who had gone off to fight in the Second World War. In attendance were Mr A. T. Lloyd (Lord Lieutenant), Mrs Howard Palmer, Mayor McIlroy and Mrs A. T. Lloyd.
