Tudor

Timeline

Council

First Charter

Queen Elizabeth's Charter

Reform

Parliament

Boundaries

Town Links

Queen Elizabeth’s Charter

In 1560 Queen Elizabeth I gave the town of Reading its most important royal charter, making the town even more self governing. The Council was to have nine head burgesses (including the mayor) and were able to make bye laws to govern the borough and controlled the markets. They were also in charge of the town prison (called the Counter) and appointed the Master of Reading Grammar School. As a sign of the new powers of the council, a new crest was introduced, showing the Queen and four handmaidens.

The charter also allowed the council to take wood and stone to repair the bridges of the town. Nineteen of these were in a poor state, some dangerously so, and this had in turn led to less traffic passing through the town.