Saxons and Vikings

Middle Ages

Tudors

Stuarts and Civil War

Georgian

Victorian

20th Century

Victorian Reading (1837-1901)

Victorian times saw a massive growth in the town, with the number of people in the town more than doubling. The reason for Readings quick growth, which left all the other nearby towns far behind, started with the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1840. This enabled goods and people to be moved quickly and cheaply between places, and led to the closure of the Turnpike Roads and the loss of most of the traffic on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

With good transport, the new businesses that were starting up used the links to grow quickly. Huntley and Palmers grew quickly, as did Suttons Seeds. Houses were needed for the workers at the new factories, and large areas of housing were built to both the west and east of the town. New churches were built for the growing population, and the water and waste system which had been very poor was improved. The Royal Berkshire Hospital was completed, and soon had to be expanded. Other buildings for the use of the public were built, such as the new Town Hall and the Library, Museum and Art Gallery. To move people from the outer areas of the town to the centre, a horse powered tramway was built.