History of Reading

Reading is the embodiment of over a thousand years of history combined successfully with all the assets of a modern, vibrant city. The Victorian red-brick buildings for which we are famous, nestle beside beautiful medieval churches, famous old coaching inns sit opposite high-tech office developments - there is a surprise around every corner.

These pages present a potted history of this area, they are in no way comprehensive: if you have particular questions about the history of the Reading area, please contact Local Studies, the Berkshire Record Office or The Museum of Reading, you can view their websites by following the links at the foot of this page.

Article		Description
	Geology	Reading before people: A geological history
	Early Prehistory	The Ice Ages: The first people
	Late Prehistory	Early settlement: The first farmers
	Roman Times	Roman Reading: Thriving farms
	Early Medieval	Saxons and Normans: Reading is named
	Medieval	Town and Abbey: Prosperity and growth
	Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries	Tudors and Stuarts: Charters and Civil War
	The Eighteenth Century	Georgian Reading: Market town, canal and coaches
	The Nineteenth Century	Victorian Reading: The red brick town
	The Twentieth Century	Twentieth Century: Expansion
	Reading Museum Service	For more on the history of Reading (you will leave this site)
	Berkshire Record Office	For more on the history of Reading (you will leave this site)
	Reading Local Studies Library	For more on the history of Reading (you will leave this site)