Reading, Berkshire
| Borough of Reading | |
|---|---|
| |
| Geography | |
| Status: | Unitary, Borough |
| Region: | South East England |
| Ceremonial County: | Berkshire |
| Area: - Total |
Ranked 318th 40.40 km² |
| Admin. HQ: | Reading |
| ONS code: | 00MC |
| Demographics | |
| Population: - Total (2002 est.) - Density |
Ranked 113th 144,393 3,574 / km² |
| Ethnicity: | 86.8% White 5.2% S.Asian 4.1% Afro-Carib. |
| Politics | |
| Reading Borough Council http://www.reading.gov.uk/ | |
| Leadership: | Leader & Cabinet |
| Executive: | Labour |
| MP, Reading East: | Jane Griffiths |
| MP, Reading West: | Martin Salter |
Reading is a town and unitary authority in Berkshire in England. The town, which has 63,000 households, is at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, halfway between London and Oxford. The name Reading is pronounced to rhyme with bedding (in IPA [ˈɹedɪŋ]; in SAMPA /rEdIN/).
Although the largest town in Berkshire over many centuries, Reading had to wait until the 1974 County change to become the official county town of Berkshire (when the much smaller town of Abingdon moved to Oxfordshire). The town and surrounding area became a unitary authority area in 1998 when Berkshire County Council was abolished. The borough council has made several applications for city status, but as of 2004 these have all been rejected.
The borough limits now include the former villages of Tilehurst, Calcot, Southcote, Whitley, Caversham, but exclude several settlements which are still part of the urban area. These settlements include Woodley, Earley and Lower Earley which form part of Wokingham unitary authority.
History
The settlement was founded at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet in the eighth century as Readingum. The name is most likely from the Anglo-Saxon for "(Place of) Readda's People", or (less probably) the Celtic Rhydd-Inge, "Ford over the River". It was occupied by the Vikings in 871 but had recovered sufficiently by its 1086 listing to contain around 600 people and be made a designated borough. The town saw much pilgrimage in mediaeval times, see Reading Abbey, below.
By the end of the sixteenth century Reading was the largest town in Berkshire, home to over 3,000 people. The town played an important role during the English Civil War; it changed hands a number of times, and despite its fortifications the longest siege was only ten days in April 1643. Reading was also the only site of significant fighting in England during the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
In 1801, the population of Reading was about 9,400. During the nineteenth century Reading grew rapidly as a manufacturing centre. From 1832 the town returned two Members of Parliament. A town council was introduced in 1839. The railway arrived in 1841, with a second system connecting in 1849. In 1851 the population was 21,500. The town was given county borough status in 1887. By 1900 the population was 59,000 - large sections of the housing in Reading are terraced, reflecting its nineteenth century growth. The town has been famous for beer (1785-1980, India Pale Ale was invented in Reading), bulbs (1807-1976, plant), and biscuit (1822-1977) production, the "Three Bs". In the nineteenth century the town also made 'Reading Sauce'.
The town continued to expand in the 20th century, annexing Caversham across the River Thames in Oxfordshire in 1911. This expansion can be seen in the smear of 1920s semi-detached properties and the 1950s expansion that joined Woodley, Earley and Tilehurst into Reading. The Lower Earley development started in the 1970s, although part of Wokingham district, was the largest private housing development of its time in Europe. This extended the urban area of Reading right up to the M4 motorway, which acts as the southern boundary to the town. Further recent housing developments have substantially increased the number of modern commuter houses in the surrounding parts of Reading, and 'out-of-town' shopping hypermarkets.
Large employers in the area now include information and communication technology (ICT) giants like Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and Oracle as well as the finance firm the Prudential and Gillette, who market shaving products. The town also hosts a two annual music festivals - Reading Festival and Womad.
Institutions
Reading Minster, or the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin as it is more properly known, is Reading's oldest ecclesiastical foundation, known to have been founded by the 9th century and possibly earlier. Although eclipsed in importance by the later Abbey (see below), Reading Minster has regained its importance since the destruction of the Abbey and is now the seat of the Bishop of Reading.
Reading Abbey was founded by Henry I in 1121. He was buried there as were part of Empress Maud, Prince William the Count of Poitiers, Princess Constance of York, and Princess Isabella of Cornwall among others. The abbey was one of the pilgrimage centres of medieval England, it held over 230 relics including the hand of St. James. The abbey was largely destoyed in 1538 during the dissolution and Henry VIII had the abbot, Hugh Cook Faringdon, hanged.
Reading School, founded in 1125, is the tenth oldest school in England. It is based in Victorian buildings designed by Alfred Waterhouse on Erleigh Road.
The Museum of Reading opened in 1883 in the Town Hall, parts of which date back to 1786. The museum has recently been restored and extended, and now contains galleries describing the history of Reading and its related industries, a gallery of artifacts discovered during the excavations of Silchester Roman Town, a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry and an art collection.
The University of Reading was established in 1892, affiliated to Oxford University. It was chartered as an independent university in 1926.
Structures
Within Reading the River Thames is crossed by both Reading Bridge and Caversham Bridge, whilst several bridges cross the smaller River Kennet. The locks of Caversham Lock, Blake's Lock, County Lock, Fobney Lock and Southcote Lock are also all within the borough.
Sport
Reading F.C., formerly based at Elm Park, have since 1998 been in their new 24,084 capacity all-seater Madejski Stadium (named after chairman John Madejski). The football club is nicknamed the Royals (previously known as the Biscuitmen).
Reading is also a centre for Rugby Football in the area, and supports the Zurich Premiership team London Irish and three senior semi-professional clubs; Reading RFC, Redingensians RFC and Reading Abbey RFC.
Literature
Oscar Wilde wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol whilst imprisoned in Reading prison from 1895 to 1897. The former prison is now used as a remand centre.
Thomas Hardy painted a rather disparaging picture of the town, lightly disguised as Aldbrickham, in his 1895 novel Jude the Obscure.
Notable people
Notable people born in Reading include:
- Richard Burns (rally driver)
- Ricky Gervais (comedian)
- Jeff Minter (computer programmer)
- Mike Oldfield (composer and artist)
- Thomas Noon Talfourd (judge)
- Kate Winslet (actress)
Notable current and former residents of Reading include:
- Hugh Cook Faringdon (churchman)
- John Madejski (entrepreneur and philanthropist)
- William Henry Fox Talbot (early photographer)
- Oscar Wilde (author, poet and playwright)
- Kenneth Branagh (actor)
- Jacqueline Bisset (actress)
External links
Micheal Sprott (Professional boxer)