Help us commemorate the 900th anniversary of Reading Abbey by voting for your favourite carved head!
2021 marks the 900th anniversary of the foundation of Reading Abbey, once one of Europe’s largest royal monasteries, by King Henry I.
As part of this year’s anniversary celebrations, we are running a project to carve one of the incomplete head-stops that decorate the outside of Reading’s Abbey Gateway.
The Abbey Gateway, located along Abbot’s Walk opposite the Forbury Gardens and next to the modern day Reading crown Court, is one of only two complete buildings that survived the dissolution of the original Abbey back in 1538. It was restored and reopened in April 2018, as part of the £3.15 million Abbey Quarter project.
A stroll around the gateway reveals around 24 sculptures across its exterior – some weathered unrecognisably, but others including a dragon and a fox – remarkably surviving from medieval times. You can spot others such as a Knight Templar, a nun, King Henry I and Queen Matilda, dating from the restoration of the gate by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1861 and in 1900 funded by local philanthropist Dr Jamieson Hurry.
There are two uncarved bath stone head-stops on the east side of the building, that date back to 19th Century restoration – which were left due to budget constraints. We have shortlisted six potential sculptures – based on figures from the Abbey’s illustrious post dissolution past.
Our contenders are:
To vote for your chosen head, visit www.reading.gov.uk/GatewayCarving.