The Francis Frith Collection.
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Reading

Reading photos (120 available)

Old photo of Reading

Reading maps (2 available)

Old map of Reading

Reading books (11 available)

Reading memories

Rowing

Reading, Easts Boathouse 1896

I think this boathouse was where the Reading Working Men's Rowing Club was based. I remember boys from the Forest Grammar School rowing on the river here and the extraordinary pain in your arms as you rowed the last few strokes of a race!
Contributed by John Buck

Reading 1949

Reading, c1900

My Grandfather Blaskett ( my mother Sylvia was the second daughter of his second wife) owned property in Reading and was a spec builder and for a while our family lived at 24 Bath Road. He had a property I think before the War called Rotherham Grange but I don't know where in Reading it was. I will be over in England in September (I live in Sydney, Australia) and hope to find Rotherham Grange. If anyone can help me I would be very grateful. During the war years our family lived with him at his country property called Cherry Elyot. Bette Schoots (nee Miller).
Contributed by Bette Schoots

Huntley & Palmers

Reading, c1900

This picture shows the factory of Huntley & Palmers - the biscuit makers who were one of the largest employers in Reading in the 20th Centrury. Presumably the photo was taken at the end of a working day with the workers streaming out of the factory? Palmer Park was named after one of the founders of this firm.
Contributed by John Buck

Berkshire memories

Reading 1949

Reading, c1900

My Grandfather Blaskett ( my mother Sylvia was the second daughter of his second wife) owned property in Reading and was a spec builder and for a while our family lived at 24 Bath Road. He had a property I think before the War called Rotherham Grange but I don't know where in Reading it was. I will be over in England in September (I live in Sydney, Australia) and hope to find Rotherham Grange. If anyone can help me I would be very grateful. During the war years our family lived with him at his country property called Cherry Elyot. Bette Schoots (nee Miller).
A memory of Reading contributed by Bette Schoots

Extracts From Reading & Berkshire books

Reading, the Maiwand Memorial 1890

This is Forbury Gardens. The scene is dominated by a colossal cast iron lion weighing 16 tons, erected to commemorate 300 men of the Royal Berkshire Regiment who died in the Afghan campaigns of 1879-80.
An extract from from"Berkshire Photographic Memories".

Reading, Market Place 1896


An extract from from"Berkshire Photographic Memories".

Reading, Christ Church 1896

An exceptionally rewarding High Victorian church and typical of Woodyer, Christ Church was built in 1861-62 and enlarged in 1874. It is large and imposing, with a north-west porch steeple of Early English style. The crockets of the gable over the porch entrance have remained uncarved.
An extract from from"Berkshire Churches Photographic Memories".

Reading, Prospect Park 1904

Two years before this photograph was taken, Reading Corporation was persuaded that Prospect Park should be bought ‘for the benefit of weary workers who, when at rest, need some open space where communion with nature may be established’.
An extract from from"Berkshire Pocket Album".

Reading, Prospect Park 1904

Two years before this photograph was taken, Reading Corporation was persuaded that Prospect Park should be bought ‘for the benefit of weary workers who, when at rest, need some open space where communion with nature may be established’. Francis Frith’s Berkshire
An extract from from"Berkshire Photographic Memories".