Whiteknights campus in ReadingClick on a photo for a large version. |
There is more than one campus for Reading University. One is the London Road campus, with the Museum of Rural Life. The other is further south, the WHiteknights campus, with two museums and a botanical garden.
We arrived (by bus) from Whiteknights Road side, found the nuclear bunker, then crossed the lake of Whiteknights park, to see the Museum of Greek Archaeology. Then via Cole Museum of Zoology and Harris Garden to Pepper Lane to get another bus back to the flat. We occasionally got lost. The campus maps tended not to put north at the top (or even tell you where north was) and not mark the museums which might be of interest to strangers. One map was upside down... Also, since we were visiting out of term, the cafes were closed, and I suspect that they tended to serve university people only. But it was a pleaasant and interesting day.
This is on Whiteknights campus, to the east of the lake, quite far south.
This dates from the time of the Cold War, in case of a nuclear strike. It is one of a number of such Regional War Rooms built during the 1950s and designed to co-ordinate civil defence in the event of an attack on the country using conventional bombs or atom bombs.
In the University's updated development plan announced in autumn 2007, the bunker was marked as being scheduled for demolition, along with the wartime 'temporary office buildings'. The land was to be used for a car park. However, in March 2009, the threatened building received a Grade II heritage listing and is now protected.
Whiteknights campus contains Whiteknights park, with a small lake, and bridges over, and walks round. Very pretty!
This is in the centre of the Whitenights campus, and quite difficult to find (see maps, below). It is right in the centre of a building, and wasn't particularly sign-posted. So please note - it is in the Edith Morley Building (which may be on the map).
Once found it is a pleasant, small museum, covering more than just Greek archaeology. I must admit I took the photo below because I thought it looked as if the Greek gentleman was using a laptop!
This was fairly obvious to find, towards the south of the campus and quite close to Harris Garden. It is in the Health and Life Sciences Building.
A small museum but interesting exhibits. The cafe was closed (out of term). The Kiwi bird must have a certain amount of problem laying eggs. And I thought that the carp's head looked like a dragon. The notice reflects the fact that the museum is in a fairly openplan area, with offices on the balcony. Not very sensible...
A botanical garden with several areas and only one entrance (see below, note north is at the bottom!). It's at the southern end of Whiteknights campus, and is actually sign-posted.
This is an artwork in the centre of the Whiteknights campus of Reading University. In the background is a map of the campus, not marking where the museums are, and with north not at the top of the map, and not marked where it was. There was one coffee shop marked, and a "You are here" which finally orientated ourselves
A map of Harris Garden. Note where north is... At least they marked where north is!
We saw this on the way to the archaeology museum. No comment... It's not actually quite as stupid as it looks. The same map was the right way up the other side, and if you're looking down a corridor, it does mean that the upside down map works (sort of - left/right will be wrong).
© Jo Edkins 2024