The Spencer Gallery which has been closed for nearly a year for a major refurbishment using Lottery funding is nearing completion. During the facelift the paintings were on show in Reading Museum until April 2007 ready for a planned Gallery opening in June. This has now slipped until 8 September and the trustees are keeping their fingers crossed. The old blue doors have gone and the entrance is now with smart glass doors. There was a problem in that there was too much light going into the Gallery which could have affected the paintings.

The inside is totally transformed and is very twenty first century. The windows are now double glazed and have been faithfully reproduced from the originals.

There is a mezzanine floor giving the Gallery a great deal more space to display paintings and making good use of the high ceiling space. The is even a lift up to the mezzanine floor.