Reading buildingsClick on a photo for a large version. |
Here are some buildings in Reading which caught my eye. They are roughly in date order. Dates are usually taken from the listing, and are the earlest date of the building.
See also buildings connected with Reading Abbey and churches.
The George Hotel, on the corner of Minster Street and Yield Hall Lane. This is looking into the yard. It is listed grade II. "First mentioned 1423. Built at various dates round a courtyard with one entrance from King Street and secondary entrance from Minster Street. King Street front Nos 11 and 12 a modern fake timber design but original timber members survive."
3-5 London Road (south of the River Kennet). Grade II, house, probably originally including commercial premises, constructed in the C16 or possibly earlier.
The black and white building is 27 and 28, Market Place. It is listed grade II, Early C17, possibly older.
16, Church Road, Caversham. Grade II, C17.
Watlington House, 44 Watlington St. Grade II*, "The western part built 1688 for Samuel and Anne Watlington, see rainwaterheads: 1688. The eastern part said to have been added 1763 (Probably earlier).
Valentine Cottage, Church Road, Caversham. Grade II, "Late C17 (front probably a replica)".
Valpy Street. 1770. It doesn't appear to be listed.
15 and 17 Castle St. Grade II* C16.
39 Castle Street. Grade II. Late-C18 house, extended to the rear during the C19, with the ground floor rebuilt in the C20 after use as a shop.
33-35 London Road (south of the River Kennet). Grade II, late C18/early C19.
26, Southampton Street, grade II. This part is early 19c, the part next door is "apparently C17 in fact an early C20 replica"!
Sweeny and Todd pie shop. No comment. They're very good pies! (There's a barber next door, as well...) 10 and 12 Castle Street. Grade II "Pair of early C19 houses, converted to shops in the late C19 and extended to the rear in the C20."
32 to 40, London Road. Grade II. Before 1802.
78-84, Southampton Street. Grade II*. 1810 by Richard Billing, Senior.
Albion Terrace (south of the River Kennet). Grade II*, circa 1825-35 by Richard Billing, local architect/builder.
Royal Berkshire Hospital in London Road. Grade II*. "Main block 1839 by local architect and builder Henry Briant (who won the competition for designing the hospital). As King William IV took such a keen interest in the hospital before it was built, his Arms, not Queen Victoria's appear on the central pediment."
42 West Street. Grade II "W I Palmer Memorial Hall. A former temperance hall (part of a terrace), of 1862 by William Henry Woodman, embellished and rebuilt between 1887 and 1899 by F W Albury."
Old ticket office of Reading station. Now a pub. Grade II - 1865-67, architect Mr Lane (Chief Engineer of the GWR Co). Enlargement and remodelling of I K Brunel's original station of circa 1840. Italianate details.
There is nice decoration inside, especially the toilets and on the way to them.
The Engine House, next to the Pump and Turbine House (Riverside Museum), by the River Kennet, on Gasworks Road. All Grade II, C.1870.
Reading Town Hall, housing Reading Museum, east end of Friar Street. Grade II* - Constructed in 1871-1872 to the designs of Alfred Waterhouse.
In Forbury Road, near the rail station. Grade II "Corn merchant's warehouse. Built in 1890."
Queen Victoria Street. Grade II "A circa 1894 commercial street with returns to Broad and Friar Streets. Probably by Joseph Morris. Dutch gabled free Baroque style."
8 High St, Market Place. Grade II "1904. Architect W R Howell of Coopers and Howell. Builders were Lewis Bros of Poole. Faience from Messrs A E Whitehead, Leeds. Art Nouvean style. Tiled and terracotta front, possibly to an older building."
Harris Arcade. Art Deco 1930s covered arcade. Between Station Road and Friar Street.
This is not here for its elegance! It is Union Street, otherwise known as Smelly Alley. Full of small shops but mostly selling vapes, alas.
Region 6 war room. It is on Whiteknights campus, to the east of the lake, quite far south.
This dates from the time of the Cold War, in case of a nuclear strike. It is one of a number of such Regional War Rooms built during the 1950s and designed to co-ordinate civil defence in the event of an attack on the country using conventional bombs or atom bombs.
In the University's updated development plan announced in autumn 2007, the bunker was marked as being scheduled for demolition, along with the wartime 'temporary office buildings'. The land was to be used for a car park. However, in March 2009, the threatened building received a Grade II heritage listing and is now protected. It is also listed Grade II.
The Blade, also known as Abbey Mill House, is the tallest building in Reading. So you can see it around the centre of Reading, but it doesn't spoil the view, rather adds interestest, I think.
These buildings are on Biscuit Island (the island where the Huntley and Palmer factory used to be).
These are on the Forbury Road, near the railway line. Rather dull, but there's a design on the side. There's also a not very interesting art work in front.
Thames Water HQ. It's a dull modern building, but they've called thmselves Clearwater Court, which is just asking for ridicule!
© Jo Edkins 2024