Reading Bedding

Reading is in the Thames Valley about halfway between London and Oxford. It grew near the meeting place of the Rivers Thames and the Kennet which were the main transport routes through the ancient woodland which covered most of Southern England.

Reading is pronounced to rhyme with bedding. There are several possible derivations of the name, however the true original is obscured. Reading holds several Royal Charters permitting parliament to be held during times of plague or rebellion in London. This distinction granting the County of Berkshire the designation 'Royal'.

Reading has evolved from a country market town, most famous for the '3Bs' of Biscuits (US English:Cookies), Beer and Bulbs (of which only Beer has survived), to a commercial center specialising in software and insurance. As such it isn't an obvious travel destination in its own right, but if you happen to be here on business there is plenty to see and do.

The Forbury Gardens, located in the center of town, have recently been restored to their original Victorian Splendour. The adjoining ruins are the remains of a once powerful Abbey, sacked by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monastaries. The song, Summer is A'*****in In, was written at the Abbey and is engraved into a stone plaque mounted on one of the remaining walls of the Abbey Charter House.

Reading is also home to the gaol in which Oscar Wilde was imprisoned for homosexuality. These days it is mainly a remand prison for young offenders.

Reading is at the heart of an attractive area of the Thames Valley, sitting across the confluence of the Thames and Kennet rivers amid green rolling hills, thatched cottages and pubs. It is surrounded by numerous small towns and villages, many of great age and beauty. Much of it is now part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the Cotswolds being easily reachable.

It is a long inhabited and well domesticated area that sits at the junction of several major transport routes, both rail and road. As such, Reading serves as a major hub for commuter traffic into and out of London.

Incidentally describing Reading as a city could raise the odd eye-brow locally. City status in the UK is quite different to that in other English speaking countries in that communities used to require a Cathedral to be designated a city. Those not so blessed incorporated communities being formally described (like Reading) as Boroughs. Rules for city-status have been changed in recent years however. Central government now host a 'beauty contest' every decade or so to promote a town to city status. Reading lost out in the millennium contest (to Brighton) and it still rankles amongst the locals.

Once famous for Beer, Biscuits and Bacon as well as seed production, Reading has seen these industries close down or move away. There is still a large brewery on the edge of Reading, near the M4 but the town centre site of the old brewery is about to be redeveloped for a major new shopping centre. The main stay of employment is now the computer industry with Microsoft, Digital, Hewlett Packard and Oracle all having large offices in or near the town. One of the privatised water companies, Thames Water has its HQ near Reading Bridge. Recent developments in the Smallmead area, South of the town centre included a new stadium for Reading Football Club

The M4 motorway linking London to Bristol, South Wales and the South West of England runs South of the Town. Further South, the M3 motorway provides a link to the South Coast. Heading North, the M40 motorway gives access to Birmingham and the M1 and M6 routes. There is a regular coach service from the Railway Station to Heathrow Airport.

Reading was where the oldest recorded British song, Sumer is i*****en in, was written, but its major claim to fame was as one of the great pilgrimage centres of medieval England. It had been given the Hand of St. James by King Henry I (found blocked up in the ruins two hundred years ago and now in Marlow Roman Catholic Church (Bucks)) & the Head of St. Philip by King John. It also held some 232 other relics.

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