Reading is very lucky to be packed with interesting places to visit and buildings to see, some old, some new. From the Abbey ruins to The Blade there is plenty to see which I have tried to capture on the map below along with some pictures and brief information on each.
All photos have been taken by myself and are free to use under the terms of the CC BY-ND 4.0 licence, basically you are free to use the pictures even commercially but you must attribute.
This is very much a work in progress and I will add more as and when I come to them so check back.
Reading’s Interesting Architecture
Places Featured on the Map
Junction Arch sits at the entrance to the Old Reading Cemetery, an area known locally as Cemetery Junction, immortalised in the film of the same name by local boy Ricky Gervais.
The hospital is a bit of a mess of buildings but the oldest part, the North entrance is very fine. This area also houses the medical museum.
School of Jane Austin although only for 18 months until the money ran out.
Famous for holding Oscar Wilde this is grade II listed and part of Reading Abbey lies underneath it, including (maybe), the grave of King Henry I.
East Thorpe House, Museum of Rural Life
Built in 1882, originally the home of Alfred Palmer of Huntely and Palmer biscuits fame, now houses the MERL. Another Alfred Waterhouse designed building.
Talking of Alfred Waterhouse the Reading School buildings are also his work.
Abbey Arch
When I first moved to Reading the abbey was strictly off limits as it was deemed unsafe. Now, after much work, it is open and part of what is now known as the Reading Abbey Quarter.
The hydro has two Archimedes screws which can generate a maximum of 46kw. You would think that it would be easy to keep them turning but they need six cubic meters of water per second to run at full tilt.
Once a pub owned by the University of Reading but now closed and at the time of writing is up for sale.
Another Waterhouse designed building and a beautiful one at that. Make sure you check out the carved panels just above the entrance.
A beautiful street that is easy to miss unless you raise your gaze when walking along it.
Upstairs in one of the builings used to be the home of a fantastic Indian, The Sirdar, many years ago.
St Laurence’s Church, Town Hall Square
Check out the pox marks on the front of the building caused by shrapnel from a bomb droped during World War 2.
The Blade as seen from the Abbey Ruins
At 14 stories, The Blade was the tallest building in Reading until ONE Sation Hill, and if you fancy seeing the view from the top, there are occasional opportunities to abseil down it for charity.
Reading Minster, St. Mary’s Butts (as seen from Gun Street)
Region 6 War Room, University of Reading
Completed in 1953, the building was built as a war room for Home Defence Region 6 (one of ten such regions in England) to protect regional government and co-ordinate defence in the event of an atomic attack.
Watlington House, Watlington Street
Watlington House is the oldest occupied house in Reading having stood here, on what is now Watlington Street, since 1688.
It generates enough electricity to power 1200 homes equivalent a year and 75% is used within a two mile radius.
Christchurch Bridge, Christchurch Green
For as long as I have lived in Reading there has been talk of a third bridge across the Thames. That’s never happened but we have got this rather nice pedestrian bridge in Christchurch Green.
It looks a little bit like a modern day prision but I kind of like it.
Sacred Heart Church
A Polish church which has the following inscription on the side:
THE POLISH PEOPLE OF READING AND DISTRICT OFFER THIS CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART AS AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD AND OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA QUEEN OF POLAND.
DURING THE PONTIFICATE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL WEADYSLAW RUBIN BLESSED THIS CHURCH ON THE 12.1981
High Bridge, Duke Street
Recently renovated this bridge has been carrying people over the Kennet since 1788 replacing bridges that had been there since the opening of the abbey.
Huntley & Palmer Building
This is the original Huntley & Palmer factory and has now been converted into flats.
Corn Exchange, Market Place
Narrow facade at the entrance to Market Way in Market Place.
The Hospitium
Originally a guest house for visiting pilgrims to the Abbey, and then later housed Reading School before they moved to Erleigh Road in 1871.
Now the tallest building in Reading and part of the long awaited Station Hill development which has tided up this end of town.
