The West Berkshire Museum in Newbury’s Wharf tells the interesting tale of West Berkshire’s history. The museum, which is housed in two of the town’s historic buildings, the 17th-century Cloth Hall and the ancient Granary/Corn Stores, has a permanent display that takes you on a trip through time, beginning with the rocks beneath our feet.
Learn about our forefathers, well-known figures like Jack of Newbury who shaped our history, and the people who built our towns and villages, roads and canals, farms, industries, and structures.
Explore the battles of Newbury, the town’s heritage in the cloth and corn trades, and the rise of horse racing and theatre as leisure pursuits to be enthralled by some of the internationally significant events that have occurred throughout our local history, such as the Greenham Common protests, and delve into the past to learn about the battles of Newbury, the town’s heritage in the cloth and corn trades, and the rise of horse racing and theatre as leisure pursuits.
Although admission to this community museum is free, donations assist the museum preserve, protect, and expand its holdings. A number of special exhibitions are housed in the second-floor galleries, and the museum offers a year-round schedule of presentations and family activities. The museum shop sells books and souvenirs, while the museum café provides hot and cold drinks, as well as cakes and slices from a local baker.
