Reading from God

Historical Streets and Places in Reading

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The ancient division of the borough of Reading into Wards

High Ward	Duke Street Sun lane (Back Lane) King Street The Market Place Butter Market Friar Street Vastern Lane Gutter Lane = Cross Street.
New Ward	Butcher Row (gutters run with blood) Fisher Row Broad Street Chain Lane The Forbury The Wharfs on the north side of Kennet
The Minster Ward	Minster Street Gun Street Castle Street Pigney Lane St. Mary’s Church Yard
Old Ward (extends from King's Head down to SouthamptonStreet)	Crown Lane Horn Street The Seven Bridges The Butts Rotten Row (Now West Street) Hosier Lane Pangbourne Lane
London Ward	London Street Mill Lane Church Lane St. Giles Church yard Syvier (Silver) Street Ort Lane The wharf of the south of Kennet Queen’s Rd. and King’s Rd. (both built in 1832)

Reading's Population between 1556 -1901

1556	3,500
1600	4,700
1700	7,690
1790	10,789
1801	9,742
1811	10,193
1821	12,182
1831	15,950
1841	19,074
1901	72,217 (enlarged borough)

Historical Streets and Places of Reading

This section is included to allow the reader to make links between the history recorded in this booklet, and the present day Reading.

The Market Place was used for public humiliation for minor offences. People were put in the pillory, whipped, or dragged around behind a cart, there was even a Ducking Stool.

Up to 1793 hanging took place on Gallows Tree Common at Lower Earley. The Oxford Arms was the place that the hangman and his victim would have a last drink.

Later hangings took place on the top of the County Gaol in Castle Street, then before the main gateway of the new gaol.

The place to have a last drink was the Granby Tavern.

John Wesley preached in Reading (1747) under threat that a hired mob was coming to tear down the preaching house. John Wesley formed chapels in London Street (1814) and Church Street (1817).

Many barefooted pilgrims travelled to Reading. Southampton Street was their main route into town.

Friar Street, which was New Street, was named after the Franciscan Friars (followers of St. Francis of Assisi), who came to Reading in the 13th Century. These were men of great zeal who were vowed to poverty and preached against corruption. The Franciscan Friars ministered throughout the town to the poor and the sick.

Three large wooden crosses were erected around the town they were for the purpose of preaching, giving proclamations from the King and announcements of marriage. They were called Coley Cross in Castle Street, Fair Cross in London Street and Cornish or Gerrards Cross near Minster Street.

Silver Street was a very poor area. In 1912 one in five families in Reading were considered to be living in serious poverty.

Hugh Farringdon, the last Abbott of Reading Abbey was hanged outside the Abbey Gates. This area is now in the grounds of St. Lawrence’s Church, in The Forbury.

Five public houses in London Street were used as recruiting stations for the Cavalry and the Line. Many recruits were taken forcibly.

Cromwell held council with Essex and Blake at Southcote during the Civil War.

During the Civil War there were skirmishes between Royalists and Parliamentary forces defending Caversham Bridge. It is said that Balmers Fields “ran with blood.” This place is now Balmore Drive, Caversham.

Robert De Monffort defeated Henry De Essex in a duel in the presence of King Henry II in 1163 on De Montfort Road.

Orts Road, Orts Bridge now Blakes Bridge and Ort Lane now Watlington Street were all named because the monks from the Abbey used to give scraps of food to the beggars in these places.

Pilgrims came to St. Anne’s Well on St. Anne’s Road. It was believed that the water brought healing to the sick. The name of St. Anne’s Well originated from “Sanct Anner” a Pagan Goddess called “The Holy One of the Heifer.”

St. Lawrence’s workhouse was on Thorn Street which was then known as Workhouse Lane.

There was a Quakers’ burial ground in Sidmouth Street.

There was a sanctuary from the bottom of Silver Street into Crown Street.