Saxons and Vikings

Middle Ages

Tudors

Stuarts and Civil War

Georgian

Victorian

20th Century

Twentieth Century Reading (1901-present)

The Twentieth Century began with Huntley and Palmers, Simonds and Suttons ( the three B's of Biscuits, Brewing and Bulbs) as the towns three main industries. Most of Readings people worked in the factories of these three companies, and moved around the town by the horse drawn trams which were just about to be replaced by the new electric ones. The goods of the three main companies were moved all over the country by train. Over the century the pace of change continued to accelerate. By the turn of the millennium only the brewery remained and all of its products move by road, much of it using the motorway system.

Two World Wars meant that Reading had become a safe place for thousands of extra people, who escaped the worst of the wars except for one fatal bombing raid by a German plane. Between the wars, less Reading people had lost their jobs in the depression than in many other towns, due to the strength of the three B's .

In 1948 Floods caused much damage near the River Thames.