The Twentieth Century

Twentieth Century: Expansion

As Reading grew, horse-drawn trams were introduced to improve transport around the town. In 1903 an electric tram service was introduced and the service was extended as new suburbs developed. In 1911 the borough boundaries were also extended to include Tilehurst and Caversham.

The First World War

During the First World War Huntley & Palmers workers made shell cases and biscuits for the British Army. Reading's Workhouse (later the Battle Hospital) became Reading War Hospital No.1 and several schools were also converted into branch hospitals, treating thousands of injured soldiers from the front lines in France and Belgium.

The Inter-war Period

Reading Bridge opened in 1923 and Caversham Bridge was rebuilt in 1926 improving links between Reading and its new suburb. Slum housing was cleared in Coley and the town centre and new council estates were built at Whitley and Norcot. Old mansions on the outskirts disappeared including Southcote Manor and Erleigh Court. Private developers including R.J Haddock built the classic semis in new suburbs around the town. The University College on the London Road became a University in its own right in 1926.

Charles Powis established Reading Aerodrome at Woodley in 1928. It was here in 1931 that ace fighter pilot Douglas Bader crashed, and was so badly injured that he had both legs amputated. In 1932 Powis was joined by aircraft designer F.G. Miles, who was keen to develop a new kind of monoplane. The result was the Miles Hawk, which took to the air in 1933 and was an instant success. By 1936 Miles was one of the country's leading manufacturers of light civilian aircraft.

The Second World War

At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 Reading was declared a 'safe town' by the Government and 25,000 evacuees arrived under the official evacuation programme. By October 1941 there were so many evacuees that it became a 'closed town'. There was minor bomb damage from six air raids between 1940-41, but the worst incident was on 10 February 1943. A solitary bomber dropped four bombs in a line from Minster Street to the Town Hall, badly damaging the Wellstead's store, Market Arcade, and the Town Hall. 41 people were killed, mostly in People's Pantry restaurant, and 49 were seriously injured.

Reading factories produced munitions and aircraft. Miles produced and repaired aircraft at Woodley and Vincents made parts for Spitfires in Station Road.  Elliotts in Caversham made landing craft and plane wings. 2,370 women and 5,583 men were employed in the aviation industry in Reading in July 1944. In 1942 BBC Monitoring moved to Caversham Park, which was the first place in the UK to receive news of Germany's surrender in May 1945. To celebrate the end of the war in Europe people held street parties and there was a victory parade through the town centre.

Postwar Reading

The immediate postwar period was a time of austerity, rationing and shortages. The worst flooding of the Thames for 50 years followed the bitter winter of 1947.  Over 1600 houses were flooded and a 'state of emergency' was declared. Also in 1947 the University of Reading bought the Whiteknights estate for its new parkland campus, but also retained its London Road site.

In 1953 the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II gave the town a chance to look forward to a brighter future. Despite poor weather Reading celebrated with street parties, processions, fireworks and water sports. In the 1950s the town continued to grow with new housing estates in Tilehurst, Southcote and 15 storey high-rise flats at Coley Park. People were moving here to start new lives from all over the UK and from the former British colonies, especially the Caribbean and the Indian sub continent.

The town centre was transformed in 1969 when the Inner Distribution Road was opened. In 1971 through traffic was effectively bypassed from the town by the opening of the M4 motorway. In 1972 the Butts Shopping Centre was built followed by the Civic Centre and Hexagon Theatre in 1978. However there were also protests against the threat of demolition to well-loved historic buildings including the Town Hall. The Town Hall was restored between 1989 and 2000 and is now the town's Museum, Art Gallery, Concert Hall and Conference Centre.

In 1970s and 1980s as old industries left, new companies arrived including Prudential, Digital and Yellow Pages. Reading is now at the centre of the UK's 'Silicon Valley', with international companies such as Microsoft and MCI located on its business parks. The town is also known internationally for the Reading and WOMAD music festivals. In recent years both The Oracle shopping and leisure centre and Reading Football Club's impressive Madejski Stadium have opened.

The Future

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Reading people's cultural backgrounds have never been more diverse. Life expectancy and the average standard of living are greater than ever. Today Reading is a large prosperous town at the centre of the Thames Valley region. About 210,000 people live in Greater Reading and many more travel to the town to work and shop.