Residents in Reading, Berkshire, can attend a free public talk at the Reading Museum on March 7, 2026, to learn about the town history through its famous lion statue. The curator-led event, titled Reading Past and Present Through the Eyes of the Forbury Lion, will run from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm inside the museum galleries.
The talk focuses on the Maiwand Lion, a 16-ton cast-iron statue that stands in Forbury Gardens as a memorial to the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot. The monument was built to honour the soldiers who died during the Battle of Maiwand in 1880. It remains one of the largest statues of its kind in the world and serves as a central landmark for the community.
Historians will use the event to debunk popular local myths regarding the statue and its creator, George Blackall Simonds. While some stories suggest the lion has an incorrect walking gait or that the sculptor took his own life, official records show Simonds studied real animals at the London Zoo to ensure accuracy. Simonds was a well-known local figure and a member of the prominent H&G Simonds brewing family.
According to Reading Borough Council, the museum is currently updating its galleries using a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding, worth £714,785, is being used to reimagining the town Roman history. The lion talk is one of several events designed to connect residents with local Victorian and military heritage.
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