20th Century

Timeline

Introduction

Danish Invasion of 870

Danish Invasion of 1006

St Mary's Butts

Civil War

Civil War defences

Siege of Reading

Battle of Caversham Bridge

After the Siege

Battle of Reading

Napoleon

World War 1

World War 2

Second World War

During the second world war many people came to Reading as it was thought to be a safe town, unlikely to be bombed by German aircraft. 25 000 people were sent to Reading as part of government schemes, and many more came as it was a safe place. The population of Reading grew from 100 000 to 140 000 between 1939 to 1942. Schools suffered, with many schools having to cope with 55% more children than normal. As Reading was so overcrowded, the town was closed to new arrivals.

Although a safe town, Reading was bombed six times in 1940 and 1941. Local people, who had been organised into Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens kept a watch for bombers while the Home Guard, who were other local people organised as a part time army, manned a rocket battery to try and stop bombers coming over the town.

The worst air raid on Reading was on the 10th February 1943. A single German bomber came over the town flying very low, so that very little warning could be given. It dropped a stick of bombs and machine gunned people in Reading and Caversham. The four bombs fell in a line from Minster Street to Friar Street. They wrecked the back of Wellsteeds store, where the Broad Street entrance to the Oracle now is, then a cafe in the Market Arcade behind Marks and Spencers, and then St Laurence’s church and the Town Hall. Many people were in the cafe and were killed by the bomb. St Laurence’s windows were blown out, and the offices of Blandy and Blandy next to the Town Hall destroyed. 41 people were killed, 49 seriously injured and 104 slightly injured.