| The
War against Napoleon
In 1794 at the beginning of the war against the French who were led
by Napoleon Bonaparte, two companies of troops were raised in Reading.
The first in 1794 was of gentlemen, and the second of ordinary townsmen
in 1795. Townsmen could not afford uniform and the money for this was
raised by collecting money. Henry Addington of Woodley Lodge raised
a regiment of Cavalry. The Woodley Cavalry used some old cottages in
Church Road Earley and met at the Three Tuns on the Wokingham Road.
In 1798 there was a serious threat of invasion, and three more companies
of soldiers were started. In 1799 all of these soldiers were inspected
by George III on Bulmershe Heath. The volunteers were disbanded in 1802
when the war seemed over, but refounded a year later when the threat
from Napoleon was renewed.
As well as the volunteers, the town also saw large numbers of French
prisoners passing through. The prisoners were not only French, but also
included Dutch, German, Norwegian and Danish prisoners.
The end of the war was celebrated in 1814 by a gigantic dinner for thousands
of the poor people of the town. 80 tables were set up in the street,
going from the top of London Street down across the Kennet and then
along Friar Street. The poor had suffered during the war with the price
of food becoming higher. Again, the celebrations were early, as the
war started again the next year and was not finished until Napoleon
was defeated by Wellington at Waterloo.
|
