Reading's earliest known name, Readingas, dates from the 8th century. Henry I founded Reading Abbey in 1121, and by 1525 Reading was the largest town in Berkshire. By 1611 it had grown rich on its trade in cloth. In the 19th century it grew rapidly as a manufacturing centre, known for the Three Bs: beer, bulbs and biscuits. It became Berkshire's only county town in 1869, and the Reading Festival has been held here since 1971.
Oldest first
Newest first
⛵
Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
410 – 1066
700s
📜
Readingas
The earliest known name for Reading is Readingas, from the 8th century (the 700s).
From the records: “The earliest known name for Reading is Readingas, from the 8th century.”
By the 800s
⛪
Reading Minster
Reading Minster, the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin, is Reading's oldest church foundation. It is known to have been founded by the 9th century (the 800s), and possibly earlier.
From the records: “Reading Minster (the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin) is Reading's oldest ecclesiastical foundation, known to have been founded by the 9th century and possibly earlier.”
🏰
Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
After 1066
⚔️
Land for Battle Abbey
After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror gave land in and around Reading to Battle Abbey, which he had founded.
From the records: “Following the Norman conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror gave land in and around Reading to his foundation of Battle Abbey.”
1086
📖
A borough in Domesday
Reading was already described as a borough in the Domesday Book of 1086.
From the records: “Reading was an ancient borough, being described as a borough by the time of the Domesday Book in 1086.”
1121
🏰
Reading Abbey
King Henry I founded Reading Abbey in 1121. In its heyday it was one of Europe's largest royal monasteries.
From the records: “Reading Abbey was founded in 1121 by Henry I, who is buried within the Abbey grounds.”
1125
🏫
Reading School
Reading School was founded in 1125. It is the 16th oldest school in England.
From the records: “Reading School (a state grammar school), founded in 1125, is the 16th oldest school in England.”
1135
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A king comes home
Henry I died in Normandy in 1135. His body was brought back to Reading and buried in front of the altar of the abbey, which was not yet finished.
From the records: “When Henry I died in Lyons-la-Forêt, Normandy in 1135 his body was returned to Reading, and was buried in the front of the altar of the then incomplete abbey.”
1185–1453
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Royal meetings and a wedding
The abbey hosted important state events: Henry II met the Patriarch of Jerusalem there in 1185, John of Gaunt married Blanche of Lancaster there in 1359, and Parliament met there in 1453.
From the records: “It also hosted important state events, including the meeting between Henry II and the Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1185, the wedding of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster in 1359 and a meeting of Parliament in 1453.”
1189
🛏️
The Hospitium of St John
The Hospitium of St John was founded in 1189. It was part of a range of buildings that could hold 400 people, and its main building still stands.
From the records: “Known as the Hospitium of St John and founded in 1189, the surviving building is the main building of a larger range of buildings that could accommodate 400 people.”
About 1240
🎶
Sumer is icumen in
The song 'Sumer is icumen in' was first written down in the abbey around 1240. It is the earliest known six-part harmony from Britain.
From the records: “The song Sumer is icumen in, which was first written down in the abbey about 1240, is the earliest known six-part harmony from Britain.”
1253
📜
The Merchant Guild's charter
In 1253 Reading's Merchant Guild asked the King for a charter and got one, and agreed how to share power with the Abbey. From the 1200s the town slowly gained some independence from the abbey.
From the records: “In 1253 Reading's Merchant Guild successfully petitioned for the grant of a charter from the King and negotiated a division of authority with the Abbey.”
1361
🕯️
The Black Death
The Black Death swept through England in the 14th century. Nobody knows exactly how badly it hit Reading, but the abbot of Reading Abbey, Henry of Appleford, died of it in 1361.
From the records: “It is not known exactly how badly Reading was affected by the Black Death that swept through England in the 14th century.”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
1538
🏚️
The abbey is destroyed
In 1538, during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, the Abbey was largely destroyed. The friars were expelled from their friary in the same year.
From the records: “The Abbey was largely destroyed in 1538 during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries.”
1542
🗳️
Choosing a mayor
In 1542 Henry VIII granted the Guild a new charter that let the burgesses elect the Mayor.
From the records: “However, in 1542 Henry VIII granted the Guild a new charter that permitted the burgesses to elect the Mayor.”
1525–1611
🧵
Rich on cloth
By 1525 Reading was the largest town in Berkshire, and tax returns show it was the 10th largest town in England by taxable wealth. By 1611 it had over 5,000 people and had grown rich on its trade in cloth, like the local merchant John Kendrick, who made a fortune.
From the records: “By 1525, Reading was the largest town in Berkshire, and tax returns show that Reading was the 10th largest town in England followed closely by Colchester and Leicester, based on taxable wealth.”
1642–1643
🛡️
The Siege of Reading
In 1642 a Royalist garrison was imposed on Reading, even though the town had fortifications. Parliamentary forces then besieged it, and the siege succeeded in April 1643. Reading's cloth trade was badly damaged, and its economy did not fully recover until the 20th century.
From the records: “Despite its fortifications, it had a Royalist garrison imposed on it in 1642.”
1688
⚔️
The Battle of Reading
During the Revolution of 1688, the second Battle of Reading was the only substantial military action of the campaign.
From the records: “Reading played a significant role during the Revolution of 1688, with the second Battle of Reading being the only substantial military action of the campaign.”
🎩
Georgians
1714 – 1837
1714
🏛️
A shared county town
From 1714, and probably earlier, Reading and Abingdon shared the role of county town for Berkshire.
From the records: “From 1714, and probably earlier, the role of county town for Berkshire was shared between Reading and Abingdon.”
1723
🚤
The Kennet Navigation
In 1723 the Kennet Navigation opened the River Kennet to boats as far as Newbury, despite a lot of local opposition.
From the records: “In 1723, despite considerable local opposition, the Kennet Navigation opened the River Kennet to boats as far as Newbury.”
1785–1786
🏛️
A new town hall
For about 200 years an old monastic building served as Reading's town hall, but by the 18th century it was suffering from structural weakness. Between 1785 and 1786 it was taken down, and the first part of today's Reading Town Hall was built on the same site.
From the records: “For the next 200 years, the old monastic building continued to serve as Reading's town hall, but by the 18th century it was suffering from structural weakness.”
1810
🛶
The Kennet and Avon Canal
The Kennet and Avon Canal opened in 1810. Now you could go by barge from Reading all the way to the Bristol Channel.
From the records: “The opening of the Kennet and Avon Canal in 1810 made it possible to go by barge from Reading to the Bristol Channel.”
1836
👮
A new borough and police
In 1836 Reading was reformed as a municipal borough under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, and the Reading Borough Police were founded.
From the records: “The borough was reformed in 1836 to become a municipal borough under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country.”
🚂
Victorians
1837 – 1901
1837–1840
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St James's Church
St James's Church was built on part of the abbey site between 1837 and 1840. It marked the return of the Roman Catholic faith to Reading.
From the records: “St James's Church was built on a portion of the site of the abbey between 1837 and 1840, and marked the return of the Roman Catholic faith to Reading.”
1841
🚂
The railway arrives
The Great Western Railway arrived in Reading in 1841, followed by the South Eastern Railway in 1849 and the London and South Western Railway in 1856.
From the records: “The Great Western Railway arrived in 1841, followed by the South Eastern Railway in 1849 and the London and South Western Railway in 1856.”
1800s–1900s
🍪
Beer, bulbs and biscuits
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Reading's three largest industries were known as the Three Bs: beer (H & G Simonds, 1785–2010), bulbs (Suttons Seeds, 1837–1974) and biscuits (Huntley and Palmers, 1822–1976).
From the records: “In the 19th and 20th centuries, the town's three largest industries were known as the Three Bs: beer (1785–2010, H & G Simonds), bulbs (1837–1974, Suttons Seeds), and biscuits (1822–1976, Huntley and Palmers).”
1861
🌳
Forbury Gardens
Reading Corporation bought part of the old abbey site from James Wheble to make the Forbury Gardens, which opened in 1861.
From the records: “James Wheble sold the rest of his portion of the abbey site to Reading Corporation to create the Forbury Gardens, which were opened in 1861.”
1867–1869
⚖️
Berkshire's county town
In 1867 the Summer Assizes (courts) moved from Abingdon to Reading. In 1869 the privy council made Reading the only county town of Berkshire.
From the records: “After the Summer Assizes (courts of assize) were moved from Abingdon to Reading in 1867, the privy council made Reading the sole county town of Berkshire in 1869.”
1871
⚽
Reading Football Club
Reading Football Club, nicknamed The Royals, was formed in 1871.
From the records: “Reading is the home of Reading Football Club, an association football club nicknamed The Royals, formed in 1871.”
1892
🎓
A university for Reading
The University of Reading was established in 1892 as an affiliate of Oxford University. It moved to its London Road Campus in 1904 and to its Whiteknights Campus in 1947.
From the records: “The University of Reading was established in 1892 as an affiliate of Oxford University.”
1886–1900
🕍
Reading's synagogue
Reading has had an organised Jewish community since 1886, when 13 families declared themselves a community and began building a synagogue. Reading Hebrew Congregation officially opened on 31 October 1900, in a ceremony led by the Chief Rabbi, Hermann Adler.
From the records: “Reading has had an organised Jewish community since 1886.”
✈️
The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1901
🌳
Prospect Park
Prospect Park, Reading's largest public park, was an estate in west Reading once owned by Frances Kendrick. Reading Corporation acquired it in 1901.
From the records: “The largest public park in Reading is Prospect Park, an estate in west Reading previously owned by Frances Kendrick but acquired by Reading Corporation in 1901.”
1911
🗺️
Caversham joins Reading
In 1911 Reading took in Caversham, across the River Thames in Oxfordshire, and most of Tilehurst to the west.
From the records: “The town continued to expand in the 20th century, annexing Caversham across the River Thames in Oxfordshire in 1911, as well as most of Tilehurst to the west at the same time.”
1943
✈️
The air raid of 1943
Reading had much less damage than many English towns in the two world wars, but many of its people were killed or hurt. On 10 February 1943 a single plane of the Luftwaffe (the German air force) machine-gunned and bombed the town centre; 41 people died and over 100 were injured.
From the records: “Compared to many other English towns and cities, Reading suffered little physical damage during either of the two World Wars that afflicted the 20th century, although many of its citizens lost their lives, or were injured, in the conflicts.”
🏙️
Modern times
Since 1945
1947
🤝
A link with Düsseldorf
In 1947 Phoebe Cusden, the Mayor of Reading, travelled to Düsseldorf in Germany, after a request from the colonel of the Royal Berkshire Regiment stationed there.
From the records: “In 1947, Phoebe Cusden, the then Mayor of Reading, travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany, in response to a request by the colonel of the Royal Berkshire Regiment stationed there.”
1971
🎸
The Reading Festival
Reading hosts the Reading Festival every year. It has been running since 1971.
From the records: “Every year Reading hosts the Reading Festival, which has been running since 1971.”
1977
🏘️
Lower Earley
The Lower Earley development, begun in 1977, was one of the largest private housing developments in Europe. It stretched Reading's urban area as far as the M4 motorway.
From the records: “The Lower Earley development, begun in 1977, was one of the largest private housing developments in Europe, extending the urban area of Reading as far as the M4 Motorway.”
1999
🛍️
The Oracle
The Oracle shopping centre opened in 1999. It is named after the 17th-century Oracle workhouse, paid for with money left by John Kendrick, which once stood on a small part of the site.
From the records: “A major town-centre shopping centre, The Oracle, opened in 1999, is named after the 17th-century Oracle workhouse, which once occupied a small part of the site.”
2002–2013
🕌
Abu Bakr Islamic Centre
The Abu Bakr Islamic Centre on Oxford Road, paid for by the community, got planning permission in 2002, began building in 2007 and opened in July 2013, during the holy month of Ramadan.
From the records: “The £3–4 million Abu Bakr Islamic Centre, on Oxford Road in West Reading, was granted planning permission in 2002.”
2018
🔓
The abbey ruins reopen
A £3 million project called 'Reading Abbey Revealed' conserved the abbey ruins and the Abbey Gateway. Work began in September 2016 and they reopened to the public on 16 June 2018.
From the records: “Reading Abbey was the focus of a major £3 million project called "Reading Abbey Revealed" which conserved the ruins and Abbey Gateway and resulted in them being re-opened to the public on 16 June 2018.”