Search results
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
- History of The Town of Reading
- The Oracle
- Reading Prison
- Reading History – The Town
- Transport
- The History of Huntley & Palmers
The history of Reading, will always include the famous Lion. The Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens is the unofficial symbol of Reading, commemorating the fallen men of the 66th, the Berkshire Regiment at the Battle of Maiwand in 1880. The first written mention of a settlement in Reading was in 4 January 871 with the battle of Reading fought between t...
In 1628 The Oracle was one of the earliest workhouses built in the country and its primary use was for the production of cloth. It is from The Oracle that the new shopping centre takes its name. The 200,000 bricks and tiles needed for the building of the workhouse were generously supplied by a Mr Brockman, from Tilehurst, at a cost of twelve shilli...
In 1844 the current Reading prison was built to a design by George Gilbert Scott based on the cruciform design of London’s Pentonville Prison. It was also a site for executions, the first one being carried out in front of a crowd of 10,000 in 1845 and the last one in 1913. There was an earlier gaol in Castle Street situated where St Mary’s Church n...
The town changed hands a number of times during the English Civil War but it finally had a Royalist garrison imposed on it in 1642. However, in April 1643 the Parliamentary forces defeated the Royalists at the Siege of Reading but the town was left with a high price to pay. The exorbitant taxes left Berkshire in a very poor way and the town’s cloth...
In 1723, the Kennet Navigation opened the River Kennet to boats as far as Newbury and when the Kennet and Avon Canal opened in 1810 it was possible to go by barge from Reading all the way to the Bristol Channel. In Victorian times transport was further improved, with the coming of the Great Western Railway in 1841 followed by the South Eastern Rail...
In 1822 Huntley & Palmersstarted life as a small bakery in London Street run by Joseph Huntley and his son Thomas. In 1841 he was joined by his cousin George Palmer and in 1846 they opened a large factory on Kings Road. By 1900 their business was the largest and most famous biscuit manufacturer in the world, employing over 5,000 people and producin...
Mar 14, 2021 · In 1636 a writer said Reading was ‘the prime and principal town in this county of Berkshire for fair buildings, large streets, for clothing (manufacture) and other blessings’. In August 1642 civil war between the king and parliament began.
Mar 20, 2019 · 20 March 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.
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.
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.
People also ask
When did reading become a thriving modern town?
How did reading become a thriving city?
Is reading still a thriving modern town?
What is the history of reading?
When did reading become an industrial town?
Is reading a city?
The Victorian era brought a wave of elegance and expansion to Reading. The town’s architecture saw the rise of Victorian terraces, civic buildings, and cultural institutions. The iconic Reading Town Hall, a symbol of Victorian grandeur, was constructed during this period.
