Stuarts

Timeline

Shopping

Markets and Fairs

A Trading Town

Arcades

Department Stores

Malls

A trading town

In the Seventeenth century, Reading became a wealthy trading town. All kinds of goods were brought into the town from the surrounding countryside and taken down the Thames to London. On their return, the barges would bring other goods which would then be on sale in the local markets. All this activity made the town busy and wealthy.

The markets in the town were held on Wednesday for meat, vegetables and fruit, and on Saturdays for corn.