The Reading Museum is hosting a series of Victorian-style school lessons for families at the historic Reading Abbey Gateway in Reading, Berkshire. Children can take part in the immersive sessions on February 20, 2026, and April 2, 2026, to see what life was like for pupils in the 1800s.
The sessions take place at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm and are designed for children aged five and older. Participants will use traditional tools like slates and dip pens to practice reading, writing, and arithmetic under the watchful eye of a teacher in period costume.
The lessons are held inside a Grade I listed building that was once home to the Reading Ladies Boarding School, where author Jane Austen was once a pupil. This medieval gateway was restored through the Reading Abbey Revealed project, which received support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
According to Reading Borough Council, the experience helps young people understand the strict discipline and different learning methods used in the past. Visitors should note that the historic building has no step-free access due to its medieval architecture.
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