A walk through history: Reading Abbey Ruins

 What is Reading Abbey Ruins?

In the centre of the town of reading is the abbey ruins in the English country of Berkshire. During its time it was one of the royal monasteries in Europe that was considered largest. It was founded by Henry I for his father King William, His brother and his wife. The neighboring St. James Church is still continuing the tradition of the abbey by using the stones from the ruins in its construction.

 

After conserving the abbey ruin and the abbey gateway, it was re-opened for public on 16th June 2018. Along with the old conservation new reading abbey quarter was installed that included a gallery and a museum with an extensive activity programme.

King Henry wanted an abbey built for thousands of monks to live with an impressive church. The now abbey quarters are on this former royal monastery. King Henry died before the completion of the construction and was buried here in 1136 on the front of the high altar. This was followed by being a desirable location for other royals and nobles to be buried here.

 

 The abbey was such a large scale construction that it was going on for 200 years after the initial foundation process started. Monks lived and worshiped here with inclusion of royal weddings and funerals with meetings of parliament and court being held here too.

The extensive history of abbey ruins goes through civil war and how it was ruined for construction of new buildings. A school was built during that time in the chapter house and homes were built. In 1837 St.James church was founded and that’s when the abbey’s stones were used in its construction by the architect A.W. N. Pugin.

The Abbey Gateway

 

Even after the demolition the abbey gateway was used as a school room of the Reading Ladies Boarding School which was famously attended by Jane Austen in 1785.

The inner rubble of the ruins and walls are still standing for the history buffs to look at. It is a nice walk through an ancient time and how the grand history of this place left its mark on the walls and ruins. The restoration process is really appreciative with the restoration of the abbey gateway.

The abbey gateway is located adjoining to reading crown court and forbury gardens. The last abbot Hugh Faringdon was hanged and quartered just outside the abbey gateway in the year 1539. It was beautifully restored when some decorative stonework came loose and fell on the street in the year 2010 and was reopened in 2018.

The room above the gateway is used by reading museum for its part of learning programme for local schools and the arch below is for use by cycle traffic and pedestrians.

 

The reading museum hosts a lot of exhibitions and events with permanent and temporary galleries that can be visited by all age groups. Highlights include archaeological finds from Roman Silchester, medieval Reading Abbey along with unique Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry, contemporary Aldermaston Pottery and the famous Huntley & Palmers biscuit tins.

The atrium features the most complete mosaics from Roman Silchester and you can enjoy the modern ceramics of Alan Caiger-Smith here.

 

A must visit place in reading for a historical stroll through ancient era looking at the grand and vivacious lifestyle that monks and kings had and to know the exciting events that took place here. A day well spent full of museum visit, activity programmes and just a quite soulful walk through the ruins that can be accessed through a taxi in reading easily without any hassle.