Timeline of Reading, Berkshire
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The following is a timeline of the history of Reading, the
county town In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a county town is the most important town or city in a county. It is usually the location of administrative or judicial functions within a county and the place where the county's members of Parliament are elect ...
of
Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...
in England.


Events


Early history, Normans and Medieval periods

* 8th century – Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain: The settlement of "Readingum" is founded by Anglo-Saxons, probably of the Readingas tribe, at the confluence of the Rivers Thames and Kennet. * 870 – Vikings capture Reading. * 871 – 4 January: First Battle of Reading: Vikings defend the settlement against men of Wessex. * 979 –
Reading Nunnery Reading Nunnery was a nunnery in Berkshire, England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the ...
is established by Queen ̠lfthryth. * 1006 РVikings burn Reading. * 1121 РJune: Reading Abbey is founded by King Henry I.
Hugh of Amiens Hugh of Amiens (died 1164), also known as Hugh de Boves, monk of Cluny Abbey, Cluny, prior of Limoges, prior of Lewes, abbot of Reading and archbishop of Rouen, was a 12th-century Picard-French Benedictine prelate. Early career Hugh was born ...
becomes first abbot.
St Laurence's Church St. Laurence's Church, Saint Lawrence's Church, or ''variations'' on those names or spellings, may refer to: Australia * Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney Austria * Basilica of St. Lawrence, Enns Czech Republic * Church of St. Lawrence, Roman ...
is built alongside. * 1125 – 29 March: A charter is granted to Reading Abbey, taken also as the founding date of Reading School. * c.1134 – The Leper hospital is founded by Abbot Aucherius. * 1136 – 4 or 5 January: King Henry I is buried in Reading Abbey. * c.1140–54 – The castle is maintained at Reading by King Stephen. * 1163 – Robert de Montford is victorious in a trial by combat against
Henry of Essex Henry of Essex or Henry de Essex (died c. 1170) was an Anglo-Norman nobleman who was feudal baron of Rayleigh in Essex (by inheritance) and of Haughley in Suffolk (by right of his second wife). He served as one of the royal constables during the ...
held on
Fry's Island Fry's Island, also known as De Montfort Island, is an island in the River Thames in England. The island is on the reach above Caversham Lock at Reading, Berkshire. The centre of Reading is to the south and the suburb of Caversham to the imme ...
before King Henry II, whose court is in residence at Reading Abbey, where the loser spends the remainder of his life as a monk. * 1164 – Abbey church is consecrated by Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. * 1189 – The
Hospitium of St John the Baptist The Hospitium of St John the Baptist was the hospitium, or dormitory for pilgrims, of Reading Abbey, which today is a large, ruined abbey in the centre of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. The hospitium was founded in 118 ...
is established. * 1213 – Parliament is held in Reading by
King John King John may refer to: Rulers * John, King of England (1166–1216) * John I of Jerusalem (c. 1170–1237) * John Balliol, King of Scotland (c. 1249–1314) * John I of France (15–20 November 1316) * John II of France (1319–1364) * John I o ...
. * 1219 – Spring: In a gathering at his home in Caversham, the dying William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, places the regency of England in the hands of the
Papal legate 300px, A woodcut showing Henry II of England greeting the pope's legate. A papal legate or apostolic legate (from the ancient Roman title ''legatus'') is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic ...
Pandulf Verraccio. * 1231 – 2 May: Caversham Bridge is first recorded with its Chapel of St Anne. * 1233 – The Franciscans arrive in Reading and are granted a site near Caversham Bridge. * 1241 – Parliament is held in Reading by King Henry III. * 1254 – The town's first
charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...
is granted by King Henry III, following a petition in 1253 by the Merchant guild. * 1261–4 – The earliest known text of the "Reading
Rota Rota or ROTA may refer to: Places * Rota (island), in the Marianas archipelago * Rota (volcano), in Nicaragua * Rota, Andalusia, a town in Andalusia, Spain * Naval Station Rota, Spain People * Rota (surname), a surname (including a list of peop ...
", " Sumer Is Icumen In", is written at Reading Abbey in mensural notation. * 1285–1311 – The Franciscans establish a new
Greyfriars Greyfriars, Grayfriars or Gray Friars is a term for Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, in particular, the Conventual Franciscans. The term often refers to buildings or districts formerly associated with the order. Former Friaries * Greyfriars, Be ...
. * 1295 – As part of the Model Parliament, Reading elects two members to the Parliament of England as a parliamentary borough. * 1346 – A tournament is held in Reading by King Edward III. * 1359 – 19 May:
John of Gaunt John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (6 March 1340 – 3 February 1399) was an English royal prince, military leader, and statesman. He was the fourth son (third to survive infancy as William of Hatfield died shortly after birth) of King Edward ...
, the king's son marries Blanche of Lancaster in Reading Abbey. * 1384 & 1389 – Parliament is held in Reading by King Richard II. * 1434 –
St Laurence's Church St. Laurence's Church, Saint Lawrence's Church, or ''variations'' on those names or spellings, may refer to: Australia * Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney Austria * Basilica of St. Lawrence, Enns Czech Republic * Church of St. Lawrence, Roman ...
is rebuilt. * 1440 – Parliament is held in Reading by
King Henry VI Henry VI (6 December 1421 – 21 May 1471) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. The only child of Henry V, he succeeded to the English throne a ...
. * 1451–3 – Parliament is held at Reading Abbey by King Henry VI. * 1463 – The election of
constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...
s is first recorded. * 1464 – 14 September: At Reading Abbey,
King Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 â€“ 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in Englan ...
reveals his previously-secret marriage to
Elizabeth Woodville Elizabeth Woodville (also spelt Wydville, Wydeville, or Widvile;Although spelling of the family name is usually modernised to "Woodville", it was spelt "Wydeville" in contemporary publications by Caxton, but her tomb at St. George's Chapel, Wind ...
earlier in the year. * 1466 – Parliament is held in Reading by King Edward IV.


Tudor period

* 1486 – Reading School is re-founded by
King Henry VII Henry VII (28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. Henry's mother, Margaret Beaufo ...
on the site of St John's Hospital. * 1487 – A new charter is granted to the town by King Henry VII. * 1500s – The surviving houses in Castle Street are built. * Dissolution of the Monasteries: ** 1538 ***
Greyfriars Greyfriars, Grayfriars or Gray Friars is a term for Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, in particular, the Conventual Franciscans. The term often refers to buildings or districts formerly associated with the order. Former Friaries * Greyfriars, Be ...
is suppressed. *** 14 September: The Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham is destroyed. ** 1539 – 19 September: Reading Abbey is suppressed and the Abbot,
Hugh Cook Faringdon Hugh Faringdon, OSB (died 14 November 1539), earlier known as Hugh Cook, later as Hugh Cook alias Faringdon and Hugh Cook of Faringdon, was a Benedictine monk who presided as the last Abbot of Reading Abbey in the English town of Reading. At th ...
, is indicted and
hanged, drawn and quartered To be hanged, drawn and quartered became a statutory penalty for men convicted of high treason in the Kingdom of England from 1352 under Edward III of England, King Edward III (1327–1377), although similar rituals are recorded during the rei ...
for treason together with
John Eynon John Eynon, OSB († 1539) was a monk of the Order of Saint Benedict who acted as the pastor of the parish of St Giles in Reading, England. Copies of Robert Aske's proclamation setting forth the reasons behind the Pilgrimage of Grace had circul ...
, priest of St Giles', and John Rugg, on 14 November. * 1542 – Reading is granted a royal charter of incorporation permitting the
burgess __NOTOC__ Burgess may refer to: People and fictional characters * Burgess (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Burgess (given name), a list of people Places * Burgess, Michigan, an unincorporated community * Burgess, Missouri, U ...
es to elect the mayor. Greyfriars becomes the guildhall. * 1548 – King Edward VI grants the lordship of Reading to his uncle, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector who in 1550 is overthrown for misdemeanors including misappropriating Abbey property. * 1551–5 – Church of St Mary the Virgin is rebuilt with materials from the Abbey church. * 1560 – A new charter is granted to the town by Queen Elizabeth I. * 1566 – A civic coat of arms is granted to the town. * 1585 – Local mathematician
John Blagrave John Blagrave of Reading (d. 1611) was an English Tudor mathematician, astronomer and designer of astronomical and mathematical instruments. His astrolabe designs, which he described in his writings, were advanced for Britain. He devoted himself ...
publishes ‘'The Mathematical Jewel'’.


17th century

* 1619 – Wiremaking in Reading first mentioned. * 1625 – The law courts temporarily are relocated to Reading because of plague in London. * 1628 – The
Oracle An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination. Description The word '' ...
workhouse opens. * 1634 – The original Vachel Almshouses are built as St Mary's Almshouses in
St Mary's Butts St Mary's Butts is a thoroughfare in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. On its west side is the Broad Street Mall. It is connected to the north with Broad Street, the pedestrianised primary high street of Reading. St Mary's Church and Butts ...
. * 1640 ** Silk manufacture in Reading begins. ** Kings Road Baptist Church is founded. * English Civil War: ** 1642 – 4 November: During the English Civil War, the Royalist garrison arrives. ** 1643 – 13–26/27 April: During the Siege of Reading, the Royalist garrison is forced to surrender to Parliamentarian forces. The Abbey church is severely damaged. * 1656 – Reading Blue Coat School for boys is founded by Richard Aldworth. * 1662 – The first
nonconformist Nonconformity or nonconformism may refer to: Culture and society * Insubordination, the act of willfully disobeying an order of one's superior *Dissent, a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or entity ** ...
meeting in Broad Street take place. * 1664 – The first fire engine is active in Reading. * c. 1671 – The Quakers first meet in Reading. * 1688 ** 9 December:
Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution; gd, Rèabhlaid Ghlòrmhor; cy, Chwyldro Gogoneddus , also known as the ''Glorieuze Overtocht'' or ''Glorious Crossing'' in the Netherlands, is the sequence of events leading to the deposition of King James II and ...
: During the Second Battle of Reading, Dutch soldiers of William of Orange, with the support of townspeople, defeat an Irish garrison of
James II James II may refer to: * James II of Avesnes (died c. 1205), knight of the Fourth Crusade * James II of Majorca (died 1311), Lord of Montpellier * James II of Aragon (1267–1327), King of Sicily * James II, Count of La Marche (1370–1438), King C ...
led by
Patrick Sarsfield Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan, ga, Pádraig Sáirseál, circa 1655 to 21 August 1693, was an Irish soldier, and leading figure in the Jacobite army during the 1689 to 1691 Williamite War in Ireland. Born into a wealthy Catholic famil ...
in a skirmish in and around Broad Street. This is the last battle fought on English soil and the only substantial military action of the Revolution, and his force's success is influential in William's decision to proceed directly to London and claim the throne and in James's decision to flee the country. **
Watlington House Watlington House is a 17th-century building, with a large walled garden, in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The building is brick built and is reputed to be the oldest surviving secular building in the town. It is a list ...
is built.


18th century

* 1707 ** The Presbyterian meeting house is built on Broad Street. ** The new wooden High Bridge is erected over the River Kennet. * 1714 – The Puntfield (
Theale Theale () is a large village and civil parish in West Berkshire, England, southwest of Reading and 10 miles (16 km) east of Thatcham. The compact parish is bounded to the south and south-east by the Kennet & Avon Canal (which here incorpor ...
) turnpike trust is authorised. * 1718–1723 – The River Kennet is made a navigation from High Bridge to Newbury by John Hore. * 1718 – The
Basingstoke Basingstoke ( ) is the largest town in the county of Hampshire. It is situated in south-central England and lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon, at the far western edge of The North Downs. It is located north-east of Southa ...
turnpike trust is authorised. * 1723 – 8 July: The ''Reading Mercury'' is the first newspaper in Reading to be published. * 1724 – The first known freemasonry meeting in Reading takes place at the Mitre Inn. * 1738 – Origin of the Blandy & Blandy solicitors' partnership in Reading. * 1748 –
Reading, Pennsylvania Reading ( ; Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Reddin'') is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city had a population of 95,112 as of the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philade ...
is established and named after the
Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...
town. * 1763 – The Wallingford turnpike trust is authorised. * 1778 – c. May: The first pound lock at
Caversham Lock Caversham Lock is a lock and main weir on the River Thames in England at Reading, Berkshire. Both the lock and main weir are connected to De Bohun Island (colloquially known as Lock Island). The Thames Navigation Commissioners built the ori ...
is constructed by Thames Navigation Commission and replacing a
flash lock A flash lock is a type of lock for river or canal transport. Early locks were designed with a single gate, known as a flash lock or staunch lock. The earliest European references to what were clearly flash locks were in Roman times. Developme ...
. * 1782 – Green Coat school for girls is established. * 1784 – Major
Charles Marsack Charles Marsack (1747/8 – 22 December 1820) was an East India Company army officer and landowner who, from seemingly humble origins had made a fortune in India, and according to stories first published in Burke's Landed Gentry in 1894, was repute ...
, who is lately an army officer in British India, buys
Caversham Park Caversham Park is a Victorian-era stately home with parkland in the suburb of Caversham on the outskirts of Reading, England. Historically located in Oxfordshire, it became part of Berkshire with boundary changes in 1911. Caversham Park was ...
from Earl Cadogan. * 1785 ** 25 July: 9-year-old
Jane Austen Jane Austen (; 16 December 1775 â€“ 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots of ...
, with her sister Cassandra, begins 18 months attendance at Reading Ladies' Boarding School at the Abbey gateway. ** The
Simonds Brewery H & G Simonds Ltd was a brewing company founded in Reading, Berkshire, England in 1785 by William Blackall Simonds. The company amalgamated with Courage & Barclay in 1960 and dropped the Simonds name after ten years. Eventually the firm became ...
is opened by
William Blackall Simonds William Blackall Simonds (1761–1834) was a brewer and banker in the English town of Reading. He founded both H & G Simonds Brewery, which merged with other breweries to form Courage, Barclay, Simonds & Co in 1960, and J & C Simonds Bank, one ...
in Broad Street. * 1786 – The Town Hall is rebuilt; Compter Gate demolished. * 1788 – The new stone High Bridge is erected to a design by
Robert Furze Brettingham Robert Furze Brettingham (1750–1820) was an English architect, the nephew of Matthew Brettingham the Elder, who practised in London. Biography Education Like his uncle he spent a part of his early life in Italy, from where he returned in 178 ...
across the River Kennet. * 1798 – St Mary's Church, Castle Street is built by a secessionist congregation (façade 1840–1842).


19th century

* 1800 – The streets of Reading are first lit with oil lamps, and piped water supply is first provided by a private company. * 1802 ** Blake's Lock on the River Kennet is converted from a
flash lock A flash lock is a type of lock for river or canal transport. Early locks were designed with a single gate, known as a flash lock or staunch lock. The earliest European references to what were clearly flash locks were in Roman times. Developme ...
to a pound lock. ** The Dispensary opens. * 1804 – Summer: The
Simeon Monument The Simeon Monument, also known as the Soane Obelisk, the Soane Monument and the Simeon Obelisk, is a stone structure in Market Place, the former site of the market in Reading, Berkshire. It was commissioned by Edward Simeon, a Reading-born merchan ...
is erected in the Market Place to the design of John Soane. * 1806 –
Suttons Seeds Suttons Seeds is a long established supplier of seeds, bulbs, and other horticultural products. Today based in the English town of Paignton, the company supplies its products worldwide, and until 2014 was part of the Vilmorin Clause & Compagn ...
is established as corn merchants. * 1810 – End: Completion of the
Kennet and Avon Canal The Kennet and Avon Canal is a waterway in southern England with an overall length of , made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal. The name is used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the cent ...
provides through water communication to
Bath Bath may refer to: * Bathing, immersion in a fluid ** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body ** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe * Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities Plac ...
and Bristol. * 1813 – The first
steamboat A steamboat is a boat that is marine propulsion, propelled primarily by marine steam engine, steam power, typically driving propellers or Paddle steamer, paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the ship prefix, prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S ...
on the River Thames is recorded in Reading. * 1814 – Simonds Bank is established. * 1815 – The first gasworks opens in Reading on Bridge Street. * 1819 – The streets are first lit by gas. * 1822 –
Joseph Huntley Joseph Huntley (1775–1857) was a 19th-century biscuit maker and innovator, who lived in the English town of Reading. In 1822 he founded a small biscuit baker and confectioner shop at number 72 London Street. Business At this time, London St ...
begins biscuitmaking on London Street. * 1825 – The Reading Mechanics' Institution is first established. * 1829 – Whilst teaching at the Castle Academy, Scottish inventor
Isaac Holden Sir Isaac Holden, 1st Baronet (7 May 1807 – 13 August 1897) was an inventor and manufacturer, who is known both for his work in developing the Square Motion wool-combing machine and as a Radical Liberal Member of Parliament. Life Holden was ...
develops a version of the lucifer friction match. * 1830 – c. Autumn: Caversham Bridge is rebuilt with the Reading spans in wood and iron and the Caversham spans in stone. * 1831 – James Dymore Brown sets up the Royal Albert Brewery. * 1835 ** 9 September: The
Municipal Corporations Act Municipal Corporations Act (with its variations) is a stock short title used in the United Kingdom for legislation relating to municipal corporations. List *The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 (5 & 6 Will 4 c 76) *The Municipal Corporation (Bou ...
makes Reading a municipal borough with effect from 1 January 1836. ** The Friends meeting house is built. * 1836 ** Reading Borough Police is formed. ** Barrett, Exall and Andrews set up the agricultural implement manufactory known from 1864 as the Reading Iron Works. * 1837 – December: The first foundation stone is laid for a church designed by Augustus Pugin, St James's (Roman Catholic), on the site of Reading Abbey; it opens on 5 August 1840. * 1839 – 27 May: The Royal Berkshire Hospital opens on land donated by Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth. * 1840 – 30 March: The
Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company that linked London with the southwest, west and West Midlands of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament on 31 August 1835 and ran ...
opens to Reading railway station from
London Paddington Paddington, also known as London Paddington, is a London station group, Central London railway terminus and London Underground station complex, located on Praed Street in the Paddington area. The site has been the London terminus of services pro ...
and Twyford through
Sonning Cutting Sonning Cutting is on the original Great Western Railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is to the east of Reading station and to the west of Twyford station near the village of Sonning in Berkshire, England. The railway's originally ...
and over Kennet Mouth, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is extended on 1 June to Steventon, and throughout to Bristol on 30 June 1841. * 1841 – Cousins Thomas Huntley and George Palmer form the biscuitmaking partnership of
Huntley & Palmers Huntley & Palmers is a British company of biscuit makers originally based in Reading, Berkshire. Formed by Joseph Huntley in 1822, the company became one of the world's first global brands (chiefly led by George Palmer who joined in 1841) and r ...
. * 1843 – 1 May: The first interment at Reading Old Cemetery, established by the Reading Cemetery Company in 1842. * 1844 ** Early:
Henry Fox Talbot William Henry Fox Talbot FRS FRSE FRAS (; 11 February 180017 September 1877) was an English scientist, inventor, and photography pioneer who invented the salted paper and calotype processes, precursors to photographic processes of the later ...
establishes a pioneering commercial photographic establishment in Reading. ** HM Prison Reading is built as the Berkshire County Gaol to the design of
George Gilbert Scott Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he started ...
with William Bonython Moffatt. * 1847 – 21 December: The Great Western Railway opens to Newbury and Hungerford. * 1848 – 1 November: The Great Western Railway opens to
Basingstoke Basingstoke ( ) is the largest town in the county of Hampshire. It is situated in south-central England and lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon, at the far western edge of The North Downs. It is located north-east of Southa ...
. * 1849 – 4 July: The South Eastern Railway opens to its own terminus in Reading. * 1850 – The Board of Health is established and Reading Union Water Company begins construction of a water supply system. * 1852 – The Reading Union Water Company completes construction of the underground
Bath Road Reservoir Bath Road Reservoir is an underground reservoir complex in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Located to the North-West of the Bath Road in West Reading, the complex covers . It comprises two underground reservoirs, covere ...
fed from a pumping station on the Kennet at
Southcote Lock Southcote Lock is a lock on the River Kennet at Southcote near the town of Reading in Berkshire, England. It has a rise/fall of . History Southcote Lock was built between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newb ...
and filtered on site. * 1853 – The Theatre Royal is established in the former Mechanics' Institution on London Street. * 1854 ** The Corn Exchange and Market House are built. ** John Heelas opens the drapery shop which becomes the Heelas department store. * 1856 ** 23 March: Forbury Gardens, laid out with a "botanical character", are opened to the public by the corporation. ** 9 July: The London and South Western Railway begins services to Reading. * 1860 – The Art School opens. * 1861 – The Assize Courts and police station are built. * 1862 – The Reading Gas Company is formed by a merger. * 1863 – Greyfriars Church is restored as a place of worship. * 1866 **
All Saints' Church All Saints Church, or All Saints' Church or variations on the name may refer to: Albania *All Saints' Church, Himarë Australia *All Saints Church, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory * All Saints Anglican Church, Henley Brook, Western Austr ...
is opened for worship. ** New workhouse established. * 1868 ** July: The
Summer assize The courts of assize, or assizes (), were periodic courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the quarter sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The assizes ...
for
Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...
is moved from Abingdon to Reading, effectively making the latter the
county town In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a county town is the most important town or city in a county. It is usually the location of administrative or judicial functions within a county and the place where the county's members of Parliament are elect ...
. This is officially confirmed in 1869. ** The
Bath Road Reservoir Bath Road Reservoir is an underground reservoir complex in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Located to the North-West of the Bath Road in West Reading, the complex covers . It comprises two underground reservoirs, covere ...
is acquired by the Borough Council from the Reading Union Water Company. * 1869 – 24 July: Caversham Bridge reopens after being rebuilt in metal. * c. 1870–1873 – The Water turbine powered sewage pumping station is installed at Blake's Lock as part of a
sewerage Sewerage (or sewage system) is the infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff (stormwater, meltwater, rainwater) using sewers. It encompasses components such as receiving drainage, drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, a ...
and sewage treatment scheme. * 1871 – 25 December: Reading F.C. is founded as an Association football club. * 1872 – Huntley, Boorne & Stevens absorbs the biscuit tin manufacturing business established in 1832 by Joseph Huntley. In 1918 it is bought by
Huntley & Palmers Huntley & Palmers is a British company of biscuit makers originally based in Reading, Berkshire. Formed by Joseph Huntley in 1822, the company became one of the world's first global brands (chiefly led by George Palmer who joined in 1841) and r ...
. * 1875 **
Caversham Lock Caversham Lock is a lock and main weir on the River Thames in England at Reading, Berkshire. Both the lock and main weir are connected to De Bohun Island (colloquially known as Lock Island). The Thames Navigation Commissioners built the ori ...
is rebuilt. ** The Free Library opens. ** 17 December: Edward Jackson establishes his gentleman's outfitters, which moves to Jacksons Corner in 1885. * 1877 – Kendrick School is established for girls in
Watlington House Watlington House is a 17th-century building, with a large walled garden, in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The building is brick built and is reputed to be the oldest surviving secular building in the town. It is a list ...
. * 1879 – January–May: The
Reading Tramways Company Reading Tramways Company operated a horse-drawn tramway service in Reading in the English county of Berkshire between 1879 and 1901.The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis. The company is one of the ancestors of the current ...
horse-drawn network is constructed. * 1880 – The Reading Gas Company bridge over River Kennet is constructed. * 1881 – Brock Barracks is completed. * 1882 – October: The new Free Library opens in the Town Hall. * 1884 – The Maiwand Lion, sculpted by
George Blackall Simonds George Blackall Simonds (6 October 1843 – 16 December 1929) was an English sculptor and director of H & G Simonds Brewery in Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Biography George was the second son of George Simonds Senior of Readi ...
, is erected in Forbury Gardens as a war memorial to men of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot killed at the Battle of Maiwand and elsewhere in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. * 1885 – The Reading Parliamentary constituency is reduced to one member. * 1887 – 20 June: As part of Queen Victoria's
golden jubilee A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations. Bangladesh In Bangladesh, golden jubilee refers the 50th anniversary year of the separation from Pakistan and is called in Bengali ''"সৠ...
, a commemorative statue of her is erected in the town. * 1889 ** 1 April: Reading becomes a county borough under the Local Government Act 1888, and its boundaries are enlarged. **
Leslie Randall James Leslie Randall (4 August 1828 – 17 January 1922) was an English Anglican prelate and the inaugural Bishop of Reading from 1889 until 1908. Biography Randall was born in Dorking, Surrey, the son of James Randall, Archdeacon of Berkshi ...
is appointed as the first
Suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdictiona ...
Bishop of Reading The Bishop of Reading is an Episcopal polity, episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford, which is within the Province of Canterbury, England. The current bishop of Reading is Olivia Graham (formerly Arc ...
and serves until 1909. * 1891 – Palmer Park opens. * 1892 ** c. March: Horseshoe Bridge for Thames towing horses is erected at the Kennet Mouth by the Great Western Railway Company to replace the ferry. ** 29 September: The Reading University Extension College, predecessor of the University of Reading, is established, with Halford Mackinder as the first president. * 1895 – 20 November:
Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...
is transferred to Reading Gaol where he is held until 18 May 1897. * 1896 ** 4 April: Amelia Dyer is arrested and subsequently hanged for the murder of a baby placed in her care. This is only one of between seven and twenty probably killed by her since moving to the Reading area the previous year. ** 7 July:
Charles Thomas Wooldridge Charles Thomas Wooldridge (1864 – 7 July 1896) was a Trooper in the Royal Horse Guards who was executed in Reading Gaol for uxoricide and who, as 'C.T.W', was the dedicatee of Oscar Wilde's ''The Ballad of Reading Gaol''. Biography The s ...
is hanged at Reading Gaol for uxoricide, inspiring fellow-prisoner C.3.3. Oscar Wilde's '' The Ballad of Reading Gaol''. ** 5 September: Reading F.C. play their first match at Elm Park. ** The new water pumping station for the town at
Fobney Lock Fobney Lock is a lock on the River Kennet in the Small Mead area of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Between the lock cut for the lock and the river itself is Fobney Island, which is a nature reserve. Fobney Lock was built between 1 ...
begins operation. * 1897 – The Reading Museum opens on the site of Reading School house; it houses an 1885–1886 replica of the Bayeux Tapestry purchased by Arthur Hill for the town in 1895. * 1898 – June:
Reading R.F.C. Reading R.F.C. is an English rugby union club, which runs a total of 21 sides across Men's, Women's, Girls and Junior rugby. The 1st XV play in Southern Counties North. The club is located in the village of Sonning, on the outskirts of Reading. T ...
are founded as Berkshire Wanderers; they play their first match in September.


20th century

* 1901 ** The British manufacture of the
Pulsometer pump The Pulsometer steam pump is a pistonless pump which was patented in 1872 by American Charles Henry Hall. In 1875 a British engineer bought the patent rights of the Pulsometer and it was introduced to the market soon thereafter. The invention ...
moves from London to Reading. ** The
Synagogue A synagogue, ', 'house of assembly', or ', "house of prayer"; Yiddish: ''shul'', Ladino: or ' (from synagogue); or ', "community". sometimes referred to as shul, and interchangeably used with the word temple, is a Jewish house of worshi ...
is built. ** Reading's population is 72,217. * 1902 – 9 August: The Coronation of King Edward VII takes place, and a commemorative statue of him is erected in the town by the Sutton family. * 1903–1955 – McIlroy's department store is in business. * 1903 – 22 July: The
Reading Corporation Tramways Reading Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Reading, Berkshire, Reading in the England, English county of Berkshire between 1901 and 1939. The tramway is one of the ancestors of the current Reading Buses, the town's municipally o ...
opens its first electric service with its own generating station. * 1909 – The first cinema in Reading opens. * 1911 – Caversham becomes part of the county borough of Reading. * 1914 ** The Jewish lawyer Rufus Isaacs, who has been the M.P. for Reading since 1904, becomes the first Baron Reading. ** Belgian refugees arrive in Reading. * 1916 ** January: War Hospitals Supply Depot, which is largely staffed by volunteer women, begins operation in Reading. ** Reading Gaol is used for the detention of aliens and (from July)
Irish republican Irish republicanism ( ga, poblachtánachas Éireannach) is the political movement for the unity and independence of Ireland under a republic. Irish republicans view British rule in any part of Ireland as inherently illegitimate. The develop ...
s detained following the
Easter Rising The Easter Rising ( ga, Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the a ...
; the latter include Arthur Griffith (founder of Sinn Féin) and poets Terence MacSwiney and
Darrell Figgis Darrell Edmund Figgis ( ga, Darghal Figes; 17 September 1882 – 27 October 1925) was an Irish writer, Sinn Féin activist and independent parliamentarian in the Irish Free State. The little that has been written about him has attempted to highl ...
. Many of the Irish are released on 24 December. * 1919 –
Reading Corporation Tramways Reading Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Reading, Berkshire, Reading in the England, English county of Berkshire between 1901 and 1939. The tramway is one of the ancestors of the current Reading Buses, the town's municipally o ...
operates its first motor buses, from
Caversham Heights Caversham Heights is a residential area within Caversham in the English Royal County of Berkshire (until 1911, in Oxfordshire). Today Caversham is a northern suburb of the larger town of Reading. The name Caversham Heights traditionally refers t ...
to Tilehurst. * 1920 ** June – A historical pageant takes place in the Abbey grounds. ** The first council houses are built. * 1921 – 13 September: The Royal Berkshire Regiment War Memorial at Brock Barracks is unveiled. * 1922 – The Oratory School, a Roman Catholic boys' institution, moves from Edgbaston, Birmingham, to
Caversham Park Caversham Park is a Victorian-era stately home with parkland in the suburb of Caversham on the outskirts of Reading, England. Historically located in Oxfordshire, it became part of Berkshire with boundary changes in 1911. Caversham Park was ...
. * 1923 – 3 October:
Reading Bridge Reading Bridge is a road bridge over the River Thames at Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The bridge links the centre of Reading on the south bank with the Lower Caversham area of the cross-river suburb, and former village, of Cave ...
, designed in
reinforced concrete Reinforced concrete (RC), also called reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and ferroconcrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having hig ...
by L. G. Mouchel, opens across the River Thames. * 1926 ** 17 March: The University of Reading is chartered, making it the only institution to be newly granted full university status in the U.K. in the interwar period. ** April: The new Caversham Bridge, designed in
reinforced concrete Reinforced concrete (RC), also called reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and ferroconcrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having hig ...
by L. G. Mouchel, opens across the River Thames, with official inauguration taking place on 25 June. ** The Church of The English Martyrs (Roman Catholic), designed by Wilfred C. Mangan, is completed. * 1929 – Easter: Reading Aerodrome opens at Woodley. * 1932 ** 27 July: The war memorial to men of Reading and Berkshire is unveiled at the entrance to Forbury Gardens. ** Reading Crematorium is established in Caversham. **
Tilehurst Water Tower Tilehurst Water Tower, is a distinctive water tower in Tilehurst, a suburb of the England, English town of Reading, Berkshire, Reading. People from Reading know they are near home when they are coming eastbound along the M4 and they can see the to ...
is erected. * 1933 – 29 March: The Miles Hawk aircraft first flies from
Woodley Aerodrome Woodley is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Wokingham, Berkshire, England, east of Reading and joined to the neighbouring town of Earley, to the west, and from Wokingham. Nearby are the villages of Sonning, Twyford, Winnersh, Hurs ...
. * 1936 – 18 July:
Trolleybuses in Reading The Reading trolleybus system served the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire and was owned by Reading Corporation, who had operated an electric tramway since 1901. As there was a need for major refurbishment of the tramway in the ...
begin operation. * 1939 – 20 November:
Reading Corporation Tramways Reading Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Reading, Berkshire, Reading in the England, English county of Berkshire between 1901 and 1939. The tramway is one of the ancestors of the current Reading Buses, the town's municipally o ...
close. * 1942 ** 2 May: The
Suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdictiona ...
office of
Bishop of Reading The Bishop of Reading is an Episcopal polity, episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford, which is within the Province of Canterbury, England. The current bishop of Reading is Olivia Graham (formerly Arc ...
is revived, with
Arthur Parham Arthur Groom Parham (25 June 18838 January 1961) was an English Anglican bishop who was bishop of Reading (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Oxford) from 1942 until 1954. Family and education Son of Edmund and Ann, Parham was educated at Magd ...
being consecrated. ** 6 May: The Oratory School moves to Woodcote House. * 1943 ** 10 February: '' Luftwaffe'' air raid on Reading, in which 41 people are killed. ** Spring: The BBC Monitoring Service moves to
Caversham Park Caversham Park is a Victorian-era stately home with parkland in the suburb of Caversham on the outskirts of Reading, England. Historically located in Oxfordshire, it became part of Berkshire with boundary changes in 1911. Caversham Park was ...
from Wood Norton, Worcestershire. It leaves in May 2018. * 1945 ** 1 May: The BBC Monitoring Service at Caversham Park is the first place in the U.K. to hear of the death of Adolf Hitler, which will lead to the
end of World War II in Europe The final battle of the European Theatre of World War II continued after the definitive overall surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies, signed by Field marshal Wilhelm Keitel on 8 May 1945 in Karlshorst, Berlin. After German dictator Adolf H ...
on 7 May. ** The Reading Festival Chorus is formed. * 1946 – The
Progress Theatre Progress Theatre is a local theatre company at Reading in England. It is a registered charity and it is a member of the Little Theatre Guild (LTG) and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA). History Progress Theatre was estab ...
is formed. * 1947 ** The University of Reading purchases Whiteknights Park to develop a new campus. ** Reading is twinned with Düsseldorf, Germany, which is made official in 1988. **
Huntley & Palmers Huntley & Palmers is a British company of biscuit makers originally based in Reading, Berkshire. Formed by Joseph Huntley in 1822, the company became one of the world's first global brands (chiefly led by George Palmer who joined in 1841) and r ...
produce the cake for the November wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh. ** The River Thames floods 1600 homes. * 1950 – Work begins on the council's Southcote housing estate. * 1951 – Later: The Museum of English Rural Life is established at the university; it opens to the public on 27 April 1955. * 1953 – February: The
Progress Theatre Progress Theatre is a local theatre company at Reading in England. It is a registered charity and it is a member of the Little Theatre Guild (LTG) and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA). History Progress Theatre was estab ...
give the first British English-language performance of Brecht's '' The Good Woman of Setzuan''. * 1955 ** Migrants from the Caribbean settle in Reading. ** Reading College opens as Reading Technical College. * 1958 ** 7 April: The first protest march for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament from London to
Aldermaston Aldermaston is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. In the 2011 Census, the parish had a population of 1015. The village is in the Kennet Valley and bounds Hampshire to the south. It is approximately from Newbury, Basingstoke ...
, to demand a ban on
nuclear weapons A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb ...
, passes through Reading. ** Spring: The
Progress Theatre Progress Theatre is a local theatre company at Reading in England. It is a registered charity and it is a member of the Little Theatre Guild (LTG) and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA). History Progress Theatre was estab ...
give the first performance in England of Seán O'Casey's 1923 play ''
The Shadow of a Gunman ''The Shadow of a Gunman'' is a 1923 tragicomedy play by Seán O'Casey set during the Irish War of Independence. It centres on the mistaken identity of a building tenant who is thought to be an IRA assassin. It is the first in O'Casey's "Dublin ...
''. ** The first Little Chef diner is opened in Oxford Road by
Sam Alper Samuel Alper OBE (25 April 1924 â€“ 2 October 2002) was an English caravan designer and manufacturer responsible for the famous Sprite caravan, founder of the Little Chef chain of roadside restaurants, a viticulturist who revived the ancient ...
. * 1960 – The town's first high-rise council flats are built in Coley Park. * 1961 – The Civic Society is formed. * 1964 –
Bulmershe College Bulmershe College was an education institution in the Reading, Berkshire, Reading suburb of Woodley, Berkshire, Woodley, in the English county of Berkshire. Historically, Bulmershe has been the name of a Manorialism, manor and of two quite dis ...
opens. * 1965 – The Prudential assurance company opens administrative offices at The Forbury. * 1966 ** The last Tilehurst brickworks, S. & E. Collier, closes. ** c. December: The multi-storey car park Yield Hall opens. * 1967 ** Western Tower is completed as railway offices, making it the first major office tower in Reading. **
Brian Brindley The Rev. Brian Dominic Frederick Titus Brindley (3 August 1931 – 1 August 2001) was a prominent Anglican priest who later became a Roman Catholic layman. He was Vicar of Holy Trinity in Reading until a scandal about homosexuality forced his res ...
becomes the vicar of
Holy Trinity Church Holy Trinity Church may refer to: Albania * Holy Trinity Church (Berat), Berat County * Holy Trinity Church, Lavdar, Opar, Korçë County Armenia * Holy Trinity Church, Yerevan Australia * Garrison Church, Sydney, South Wales, also known as ''H ...
, which he transforms into a centre of Anglo-Catholicism. * 1968 – 3 November:
Trolleybuses in Reading The Reading trolleybus system served the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire and was owned by Reading Corporation, who had operated an electric tramway since 1901. As there was a need for major refurbishment of the tramway in the ...
stop operating. * 1969–1989 – The Inner Distributor Road opens. * 1969 – 1 April: The Reading Borough Police is merged into Thames Valley Police. * 1971 ** 25–27 June: The first Reading Festival "of jazz and progressive music" takes place. ** Friars Walk Shopping Centre opens, and
Broad Street Mall Broad Street Mall, previously known as the Butts Centre, is a large indoor shopping centre located in central Reading, England. There is a large multi-storey car park with direct access to the first floor of the centre. It is close to The Hex ...
opens as the Butts Centre. * 1974 ** 1 April: Reorganisation under
Local Government Act 1972 The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant Acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...
takes effect, and The County Borough of Reading becomes an administrative district of
Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...
. ** 3 April–26 June: ''
The Family A family is a domestic or social group. Family or The Family may also refer to: Mathematics *Family of curves, a set of curves resulting from a function with variable parameters *Family of sets, a collection of sets *Indexed family, a family wh ...
'', an early U.K. example of a fly on the wall documentary series featuring the Wilkins of Reading, airs nationally on BBC1 television. * 1976 ** 8 March: The first local radio station,
Radio 210 Heart Berkshire (formerly 2-Ten FM) was an Independent Local Radio station, serving Berkshire and North Hampshire from studios in Reading. About Launched as Radio 210 (Two-One-Oh), the station commenced broadcasting in March 1976 on its mediu ...
, begins broadcasting. **
Huntley & Palmers Huntley & Palmers is a British company of biscuit makers originally based in Reading, Berkshire. Formed by Joseph Huntley in 1822, the company became one of the world's first global brands (chiefly led by George Palmer who joined in 1841) and r ...
cease biscuit manufacture in Reading. **
Suttons Seeds Suttons Seeds is a long established supplier of seeds, bulbs, and other horticultural products. Today based in the English town of Paignton, the company supplies its products worldwide, and until 2014 was part of the Vilmorin Clause & Compagn ...
move to Torbay. ** The new civic offices are completed. * 1977 – The Hexagon concert/performance venue is completed. * 1984 – American screen actor Stacy Keach serves 6 months in HM Prison Reading for possession of cocaine at Heathrow Airport. * 1985 – New Central Library is built. * 1988 ** 27 March: Reading F.C. win the
Simod Cup The Full Members' Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 to 1992. Th ...
, but are relegated to the Football League Third Division. ** Rivermead Leisure Centre opens. * 1989 – The merger of
Bulmershe College Bulmershe College was an education institution in the Reading, Berkshire, Reading suburb of Woodley, Berkshire, Woodley, in the English county of Berkshire. Historically, Bulmershe has been the name of a Manorialism, manor and of two quite dis ...
of Higher Education into the University of Reading is completed. * 1990–2006 – The main annual U.K.
World of Music, Arts and Dance WOMAD ( ; World of Music, Arts and Dance) is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance. History WOMAD was founded in 1980 by English rock musician Peter Gabriel, w ...
(WOMAD) festival is held in Rivermead. * 1990 – 8 August: The
Kennet and Avon Canal The Kennet and Avon Canal is a waterway in southern England with an overall length of , made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal. The name is used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the cent ...
is officially reopened throughout as a leisure waterway. * 1994 ** 10 February: The
Church of England (Continuing) The Church of England (Continuing) is part of the Continuing Anglican Movement. Although the church was widely discussed in Anglican circles at the time of its founding, it has not achieved significant growth since that time. In 2019 the church h ...
is founded at St Mary's Church, Castle Street. ** Reading is twinned with
Clonmel Clonmel () is the county town and largest settlement of County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Cromwellian army which sacked the towns of Dro ...
, Republic of Ireland and San Francisco Libre, Nicaragua. * 1995 – The Broad Street shopping area is pedestrianised. * 1997 – 17 June: The
Reading Rockets The Reading Rockets are an English semi-professional basketball club based in the town of Reading, England. Founded in 1997, the Rockets compete in NBL Division 1, the second tier of the British basketball system. History The Rockets were f ...
basketball club is formed. * 1998 ** 1 April:
Berkshire County Council The Council of the Royal County of Berkshire, also known as the Berkshire County Council, was the top-tier local government administrative body for Berkshire from 1889 to 1998. The local authority had responsibilities for education, social servi ...
is abolished and the Borough of Reading becomes one of the unitary authorities in the area. ** 22 August: Reading F.C. play their first match at the Madejski Stadium. * 1999 ** February: Green Park Business Park is opened by the Prudential, initially with Cisco Systems as main tenant. ** 23 September:
The Oracle An oracle was usually a priest or a priestess through whom the gods were supposed to speak or prophesize. In particular: *Pythia – served as an oracle in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. * Oracle bone – a bone used for divination in ancient Chi ...
shopping mall is opened on the site of the
Oracle An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination. Description The word '' ...
workhouse. ** The Church of St Mary the Virgin is raised to the honorific dignity of
Reading Minster Reading Minster, or the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin, is the oldest ecclesiastical foundation in the English town of Reading. Although eclipsed in importance by the later Reading Abbey, Reading Minster regained its status after the destruc ...
.


21st century

* 2003 ** Reading is twinned with
Speightstown Speightstown (), also known as ''Little Bristol'', is the second largest City centre of Barbados. It is situated north of the capital city of Bridgetown, in the northern parish of Saint Peter. The City is named after William Speight, a member o ...
, Barbados. ** The first
gay pride march A pride parade (also known as pride march, pride event, or pride festival) is an outdoor event celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture, queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, LGBT rights by country o ...
takes place in Reading. * 2004 – Reading College and School of Arts and Design is affiliated to Thames Valley University. * 2005 ** 7 May: The
Murder of Mary-Ann Leneghan On the early morning of 7 May 2005, 16-year-old Mary-Ann Leneghan was stabbed to death in Prospect Park in Reading, Berkshire, UK. The previous evening, Leneghan and a friend had been kidnapped and subjected to hours of assault, rape, and druggi ...
takes place. ** November: The Green Park wind turbine is completed. * 2006 – Reading F.C. open their first season in the Premier League. * 2010 – March: Scottish Courage's Berkshire Brewery at Worton Grange, successor to the
Simonds Brewery H & G Simonds Ltd was a brewing company founded in Reading, Berkshire, England in 1785 by William Blackall Simonds. The company amalgamated with Courage & Barclay in 1960 and dropped the Simonds name after ten years. Eventually the firm became ...
in 1979/80, ceases production. * 2013 ** September:
UTC Reading UTC Reading is a university technical college (UTC) that opened in Reading, Berkshire, England in September 2013. The University of Reading, Reading College and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College are the lead education sponsors of the UTC, ...
, a university technical college, opens. ** November: HM Prison Reading closes. ** December: Jackson's outfitters closes; the premises are refurbished for residential use in the following decade. * 2014 – 17 July: The substantially rebuilt Reading railway station is officially reopened, upgraded in anticipation of electrification work and the opening of the Elizabeth line. * 2015 – 30 September:
Christchurch Bridge Christchurch Bridge, originally known as the Reading Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge, is a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Thames at Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The bridge links the centre of Reading on the south bank wit ...
opens as a pedestrian and cycle crossing over the River Thames. * 2017 – The digital station RG2 Radio is established to primarily to serve the local Afro-Caribbean community. * 2018 ** 2 January: The electrification of Reading station is completed, with the first electric trains running between
London Paddington Paddington, also known as London Paddington, is a London station group, Central London railway terminus and London Underground station complex, located on Praed Street in the Paddington area. The site has been the London terminus of services pro ...
and Didcot Parkway. ** 15 December: Reading station is connected to the Elizabeth Line network under the name TfL Rail. * 2019 –19 November:
Olivia Graham Olivia Josephine Graham (born 21 June 1956) is a British bishop. She has served as Bishop of Reading, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Oxford, since 2019. She was previously Archdeacon of Berkshire in the same diocese from 2013 to 2019. E ...
is the first female consecrated
Suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdictiona ...
Bishop of Reading The Bishop of Reading is an Episcopal polity, episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford, which is within the Province of Canterbury, England. The current bishop of Reading is Olivia Graham (formerly Arc ...
. * 2020 ** 23 March: Reading enters the national lockdown cycle caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the United Kingdom, it has resulted in confir ...
. ** 20 June:
2020 Reading stabbings On 20 June 2020, shortly before 19:00 BST, a man with a knife attacked people who were socializing in Forbury Gardens, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Three men died from their wounds, and three other people were seriously injured. A 25-ye ...
: Three people are killed in a mass stabbing in Forbury Gardens. * 2021 ** COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom continues. ** Autumn: Reading Rep Theatre opens in a permanent venue converted from a Salvation Army hall. * 2022 ** 6 November: Elizabeth line begins 4 trains per hour running from Reading to Abbey Wood. ** 4 December: Research at University of Reading shows that trust in food authorities, such as government and food regulators, has fallen due to COVID-19. ** 6 December: According to the 2022/23 People & Planet University League, the University of Reading has been ranked as the fourth greenest university in the UK. * 2023 – 27 May:
Reading Green Park railway station Reading Green Park railway station is a railway station under construction in Reading, Berkshire, England. The station is intended to serve the Green Park business area and the Madejski Stadium, as well as the proposed Green Park Village resi ...
opens to serve the Green Park business area and the Madejski Stadium, as well as the proposed Green Park Village residential development. Refurbishment of
Reading West railway station Reading West railway station serves West Reading, Berkshire, about west from the town's main retail and commercial areas. The station is served by local services operated by Great Western Railway. It is down the line the zero point at . Hist ...
is also completed during the year.


Births

* c. 1492 – Thomas White, cloth merchant, Lord Mayor of London and benefactor (d. 1567) * 1573 ** 7 October: William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury (executed 1645) ** John Kendrick, cloth merchant and benefactor (d. 1624) * 1718 – 12 December: John Cennick, evangelical preacher (d. 1755) * 1759 – 24 September: Charles Simeon, evangelical preacher (d. 1836) * 1795 – 26 May: Thomas Talfourd, lawyer, politician and author (d. 1854) * 1843 – 6 October:
George Blackall Simonds George Blackall Simonds (6 October 1843 – 16 December 1929) was an English sculptor and director of H & G Simonds Brewery in Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Biography George was the second son of George Simonds Senior of Readi ...
, sculptor (d. 1929) * 1858 – 19 June: George Alexander, actor-manager (d. 1918) * 1869 – 23 December: Hugh Allen, conductor (d. 1946) * 1884 – 18 August:
Basil Cameron Basil Cameron, CBE (18 August 1884 – 26 June 1975) was an English conductor. Early career He was born Basil George Cameron HindenbergW.L. Jacob, "Hindenburg v. Cameron" (Letter to the Editor) (1991). ''The Musical Times'', 132 (1782), p. ...
, conductor (d. 1975) * 1886 – 14 January: Hugh Lofting, children's author, creator of Doctor Dolittle (d. 1947) * 1892 – 18 December:
Fred Potts Frederick William Owen Potts, VC, (18 December 1892 – 2 November 1943), more commonly known as Trooper Fred Potts, was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy ...
, trooper, recipient of the Victoria Cross (d. 1943) * 1903 – 29 March:
Arthur Negus Arthur George Negus, OBE (1903–1985) was a British television personality and antiques expert, specialising in furniture. Biography Negus was born in Reading, Berkshire, to Amy Julia Worsley and father Arthur George Negus Sr, a cabinet mak ...
, antiques expert (d. 1985) * 1906 – 18 December: Evelyn Dunbar, war artist (d. 1960) * 1912 – 3 July:
Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. ...
, novelist (d. 1975) * 1918 – 4 July: Alex Bedser, cricketer (d. 2010) * 1929 – 31 December:
Peter May Peter May may refer to: *Peter W. May, American businessman *Peter May (cricketer) (1929–1994), English Test cricketer *Peter May (writer) Peter May (born 20 December 1951) is a Scottish television screenwriter, novelist, and crime writer. H ...
, cricketer (d. 1994) * 1930 – 24 November: Ken Barrington, cricketer (d. 1981) * 1932 – 24 October: Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster (d. 2017) * 1943 – 14 May:
Richard Peto Sir Richard Peto (born 14 May 1943) is an English statistician and epidemiologist who is Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford, England. Education He attended Taunton's School in Southampton and subsequ ...
, epidemiologist * 1953 – 15 May: Mike Oldfield, musician * 1961 – 25 June:
Ricky Gervais Ricky Dene Gervais ( ; born 25 June 1961) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and director. He co-created, co-wrote, and acted in the British television sitcoms ''The Office'' (2001–2003), '' Extras'' (2005–2007), and '' An Idiot Abroad' ...
, comedian * 1963 –
Bob and Roberta Smith Patrick Brill (born 1963), better known by his pseudonym Bob and Roberta Smith, is a British contemporary artist, writer, author, musician, art education advocate, and keynote speaker. He is known for his "slogan" art, is an associate professor ...
(Patrick Brill), slogan painter * 1965 – 1 August:
Sam Mendes Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes (born 1 August 1965) is a British film and stage director, producer, and screenwriter. In 2000, Mendes was appointed a CBE for his services to drama, and he was Knight Bachelor, knighted in the 2020 New Year Honour ...
, film and theatre director * 1966 – 31 August: Alice Oswald, poet * 1973 – 18 December:
Lucy Worsley Dr Lucy Worsley (born 18 December 1973) is a British historian, author, curator, and television presenter. She is joint chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces but is best known as a presenter of BBC Television series on historical topics. Ea ...
, historian * 1975 – 5 October:
Kate Winslet Kate Elizabeth Winslet (; born 5 October 1975) is an English actress. Known for her work in independent films, particularly period dramas, and for her portrayals of headstrong and complicated women, she has received numerous accolades, incl ...
, film actress * 1977 ** 23 April:
Babita Sharma Babita Sharma (born April 1977) is a British television newsreader on BBC News (TV channel) and BBC World News, presenting the Newsday strand each Monday to Wednesday from London with Rico Hizon in Singapore. Early life and education Sharma is ...
, radio journalist ** 28 September:
John Finnemore John David Finnemore (born 28 September 1977) is a British comedy writer and actor. He wrote and performed in the radio series ''Cabin Pressure'', ''John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme'', and '' John Finnemore's Double Acts'', and frequently ...
, comedy scriptwriter-performer * 1982 – 9 January:
Kate Middleton Catherine, Princess of Wales, (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne, making Catherine the likely next ...
, royal consort * 1983 – 6 September:
Pippa Middleton Philippa Charlotte Matthews (née Middleton; born 6 September 1983) is an English socialite, author and columnist. She is the younger sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Born in Reading and raised in Bucklebury, Berkshire, Middleton attende ...
, socialite * 1992 – 17 March: Eliza Bennett, actress * 1993 – 29 June:
Fran Kirby Francesca "Fran" Kirby (born 29 June 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. She began her career with hometown club Reading before moving to Chelsea in July 20 ...
, footballer


See also

* Oxford, Portsmouth, and Southampton


References


Bibliography

* {{Timelines of cities in the United Kingdom Reading Reading, Berkshire Reading