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1700 and 1800s
- Between the 1700 and 1800s, Reading became an important centre for business and trade and grew into a thriving market town.
www.readingmuseum.org.uk/blog/short-history-reading-from-market-town-silicon-cityA short history of Reading: From market town to Silicon city
During the 20th century, Reading transitioned from traditional industries like biscuits, brick-making, brewing, and seeds to become a hub for the knowledge economy, a vibrant university town, and a major transportation centre.
- Saxon Reading
- Reading in The Middle Ages
- Reading in The 16th Century
- Reading in The 17th Century
- Reading in The 18th Century
- Reading in The 19th Century
- Reading in The 20th Century
- Reading in The 21st Century
- A Timeline of Reading
Reading began life as a Saxon settlement. Reading was originally called Reada ingas, which means the people of Reada. Reada was a Saxon leader who settled in the area with his tribe in the 6th century. The early settlement was probably in the area of St Marys Butts. (In the Middle Ages this road was called Old Street, so even then it was old). Its ...
The Normans built a wooden castle in Reading. It was later replaced by a stone castle. The king demolished the castle in 1152, fearing it might fall into the hands of his enemies. n also gave land west of the town and the rents from 29 houses in Reading to Battle Abbey in Sussex. The land was later given to Reading Abbey but a lane called Battle La...
In the early 16th century manufacturing cloth was still the mainstay of Reading’s economy. A writer said ‘The town stands chiefly by clothing’. n In 1538-40 Henry VIII dissolved Reading Abbey, the Grey Friars, and St John the Baptist Hospital. The last Abbot was hanged outside the abbey gates for refusing to recognize Henry as head of the Church of...
Reading underwent a major change in the 17th century. For centuries the wool trade had been the main industry. In the 17th century it declined and by the early 18th century was no longer a major industry in the town. A merchant named James Kendrick left money in his will to erect a building where the poor could be employed in making cloth. This bui...
In the early 18th century a writer said ‘the town of Reading contains about n900 houses (which would give it a population of about 4,500), large streets, but ordinary buildings wherein is the greatest market for corn in England. At about the same time another writer said that Reading ‘is very pleasantly situated, is large, but nothing near so famou...
At the time of the first census in 1801 Reading had a population of just under 10,000. By the standards of the time, it was quite a large town. In the 19th century, new industries grew up. In 1807 John Sutton a corn and seed merchant founded Suttons Seeds. In 1822 Joseph Huntley opened a biscuit bakery. Huntley and Palmer later became an important ...
In 1909 Reading gained its first cinemas. In 1911 the boundaries were extended again to include Caversham and Tilehurst. In 1920 the first council houses were built in Shinfield Road. Reading University opened in 1926. An aerodrome opened in Woodley in 1931. During the Second World War Reading was considered a ‘safe’ town (one unlikely to be bombed...
In the 21st century Reading is still a flourishing town. A Visitors Centre opened in 2001. In 2023 the population of Reading was 161,000.
871 The Danes capture the settlement at Reading 1006 The Danes burn Reading 1086 Reading has a population of about 600 1125 Henry I builds Reading Abbey 1320 Reading has a population of around 1,300 1500 Making cloth is the main industry in Reading 1539 Henry VIII closes Reading Abbey 1550 Reading has a population of around 2,000 1619 The first wir...
With the coming of the M4 during the 20th Century, Reading changed from a manufacturing town into a town of blue chip companies and high tech industries. We are lucky that Reading is a thriving modern town that still manages to retain its historical identity.
The earliest map of Reading, published in 1611 by John Speed. 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.
Mar 20, 2019 · Professor Kathy Pain explores how the town once famed for ‘beer, biscuits and bulbs’ became a hub for high tech industry and explains how smarter town planning could secure its future economic success, ahead of her Reading 2050 lecture on 28 March.
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Sep 26, 2024 · Reading, a bustling town in Berkshire, boasts a rich history spanning over a thousand years, reflecting its evolution. From its humble beginnings as a Saxon settlement to its current role as a modern economic hub, Reading has seen pivotal events shape its character.
