The Lost Museum

A Community-Led Journey Through Memory, Identity & Heritage

Over the past two years, The Engine Room delivered a creative, community-powered project in Dee Park, Reading—The Lost Museum Which Was Found in Dee Park. This unique, museum of the people was built by local residents to explore and celebrate the powerful connections between memory, identity, and language.

At its heart, the project brought people together—young and old—to share stories, objects, and experiences that define the community’s heritage. Travelling across Dee Park, the museum collected memories that might otherwise have been lost and turned them into something lasting and meaningful.

Dee Park has seen major changes in recent years. While regeneration brought new opportunities, it also risked erasing parts of the community’s past. The Lost Museum created possibilities that insured these important stories weren’t forgotten. It gave a voice to those who are often unheard and helped younger generations feel more connected to where they live.

Led by The Engine Room—the project empowered local people to become curators of their own culture. Participants gained new skills, from curatorial training with The Museum of English Rural Life and the value of storytelling and keeping them safe for future generations. They learnt how to create exhibitions and build a community museum and became confident leaders in their community.

The lost museum is not just about what one inherits from our ancestors but also what we leave behind for people to follow. The legacy we will leave.