Reading
Berkshire's county town of Reading, is a market centre, a major railway junction and a popular university town. Reading was made rich by the cloth trade in the Middle Ages and began a rapid expansion during the 19th-c, with the introduction of the canal and railway. The town is linked with many great names such as Sutton Seeds, Huntley & Palmer biscuits and the brewing industry.
The Forbury - A Ancient Meeting Place
Between the Abbey and Town © TAB
Reading's history as a settlement stretches back more than 2,000 years to the Romans, who had many farms and villas in this area. Henry I founded a Benedictine Abbey at Reading in 1121, and he now lies buried in its grounds. The abbey's 13th-c inner gateway was lovingly restored by the Victorians, but the rest of the abbey still lies in ruins. The Forbury, an open space between the town and the Abbey grounds, has been a traditional meeting place for centuries. Today it has been preserved as a public park and gardens.
The town centre has been recently revitalised with one of Britain's finest shopping centres, 'The Oracle', which incorporates an attractive riverside frontage. Other shopping Centres include; Friars Walk, Broad Street Mall, West Street, Market Place and the Butter Market.
Reading Jail, was made famous by the poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol, written by its most famous inmate, Oscar Wilde. The jail is immediately east of Reading Station and can be identified by its red-brick walls and turrets.
It was at Reading Station that Lawrence of Arabia lost most of the manuscript for his book 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom', while changing trains here in 1919 . It was his only copy, so he had to re-write it from scratch.
Things to do in Reading
Reading
Museum & Art Gallery
Located in the The Town Hall, it tells the story of Roman occupation in Berkshire and the surrounding area. Prime exhibits are antiquities from the great Roman site of Silchester, including a Roman Bronze Eagle.
Opening times: Mon-Fri 10am to 4pm - Free Entry
Location: Blagrave Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1QH
Museum of English Rural Life
Describes the 200 year history of rural life and farming in England, when the horse dominated the countryside. Farm wagons, ploughs, scythes, butter churns and vintage tractors are among the thousands of items preserved, together with over 300,000 photographs.
Opening times: Mon-Fri 9am - 4:30pm, Sat-Sun 2pm - 4:30pm - Free Entry
Location: The University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
Abbey Ruins
Reading
Abbey was founded by Henry I in 1121. Now a picturesque
ruin, it was once one of the richest abbeys in medieval
Britain - making Reading one of the most influential
places in the Thames valley. Following its Dissolution,
in 1539, the buildings rapidly disappeared and its
stones were reused in the locality.
Location: Forbury Gardens, Reading
Museums of Zoology and Greek Archaeology
These two museums form part of The University of Reading. The Museum of Zoology exhibits include hundreds of animal skeletons and zoological specimens (including dinosaur eggs), which demonstrate the rich diversity of the Animal Kingdom. The Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology contains one of the largest collections of Greek ceramics in England. Other artifacts include prehistoric pottery, metal and stone artifacts of Roman and Greek origin. There is also a large collection of Egyptian antiquities.
Opening times: Open to the public Mon-Fri 9.30am to 4.30pm, closed BH - Free Entry
Location: University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, RG6 6AH
Blake's Lock Museum
Located
at Blake's Lock, by the River Kennet. Housed in a range
of old canal building and a brick-built Victorian pumping
station, the museum recalls Reading's historical waterway
life, trades and industries. Exhibits include a number
of reconstructed shops from the 1900's and a model
railway.
Opening times: Mon-Fri 10 am to 4pm - Free Entry
Location: Gas Works Rd, Reading RG1 3DH - Tel: 01734 390918
Map of Reading
South East England
