The underpass to Katesgrove, specifically the stretch beneath the IDR near County Lock, has had a series of murals installed in it, and I was keen to see it. What apparently used to be a somewhat grim, graffiti-prone passage has been turned into the Time Travel Tunnel, unveiled earlier this month (February 1, 2026).
A Walk Through Time
As it happened they weren’t painted as I expected but were a series of glossy printed panels depicting the history of Katesgrove.
The mural is designed so that every few steps represent a different era. The “guide” for this journey is a character named “Kate from the Grove,” who pops up throughout the panels to show you what this part of Reading looked like across the centuries.
The local history on display includes:
- The Siege of Reading: There are scenes from 1643 during the English Civil War, a reminder of how pivotal our town was back then.
- Industrial Heritage: It pays homage to the tanneries and brickworks that defined Katesgrove’s economy for generations.
- Modern Community: Including Waterloo Meadows allotments and the Reading Hydro project.
Solarpunk and Community Spirit
The art itself was created by a collective called Commando Jugendstil. They use a “solarpunk” style, which is all about a sustainable, green future, but rooted in community action. Apparently, over 100 residents and volunteers were involved. While many of the 78 panels are high-quality prints, there are four large sections that were hand-painted by locals during workshops held last September.
It’s part of a £100,000 investment to brighten up the area, and walking through it now, it feels significantly safer and more welcoming. However, it was disappointing that it was felt necessary to post reminders not to disrespect the mural.
How to Find it
It was an interesting diversion, and the panels were colourful and interesting, but it needed a bit of text somewhere, even a companion website, to give a bit more detail about what you were looking at. For example, one panel showed Marianne Faithfull, but I couldn’t work out why.
If you want to see it for yourself, the tunnel connects Katesgrove Lane to the Kennet Side near the County Lock. It’s a great little detour if you’re walking the IDR or heading towards the town center from south Reading.
If you’re interested in local history, it’s also worth stopping by Katesgrove Primary School nearby, which is a historic building in its own right and has been part of this community since the late 19th century.
Have you walked through the tunnel yet? I’d love to hear what you think of the new look in the comments below.
