Walk Reading

23/05/2024

If anybody will be awake at about 0750 on Monday and tuned into
BBC Radio Berkshire you'll be able to hear us talking about our Reading at War walk later that day!

Did the pre record this morning and will be live on Monday. So excited!

19/05/2024

Just completed the final walk of this years Reading Walking Festival organised by REDA. It's been a great week with 77 people coming on our walks.

It doesn't end here though. We walk for 10 months of the year so come and join us if you missed out this time around.

https://www.walk-reading.co.uk/book-a-walk

17/05/2024

Now that the beautiful light evenings are here we're starting our 7pm evening walks in June. We have walks around Reading Abbey, Reading at War, Kennet & Avon Canal, The home of photography, Forbury Gardens and a Reading Miscellany

Details on the website https://www.walk-reading.co.uk/book-a-walk

Come and join us on one of our Reading walking tours

06/03/2024

We're taking part again in this years Reading Walks Festival with 4 walks scheduled - Reading at War, The home of photography and our Reading Miscellany walk (twice).

Come and join in https://whatsonreading.com/venues/reading-walks-festival/whats-on-events

26/02/2024

We're coming out of hibernation and our spring walks are now on the website here https://walk-reading.co.uk/book-a-walk

Come and join us and blow away the winter cobwebs and discover our wonderful town of

New walks for 2024 to be announced shortly

26/12/2023

Need to work off some of that culinary excess? How about joining one of our Twixmas walks and learn about our great town at the same time?

https://walk-reading.co.uk/book-a-walk

20/12/2023

In the crowded field that is suggestions for last minute gift ideas....

How about one of our gift cards that can be used on any of our walks next year (or even our Christmas week walks this year)?

https://www.walk-reading.co.uk/gift-card

19/12/2023

Having guests come to stay over the festive period? Looking for something to do with them to walk off the excess?

Check out our holiday programme of walks and surprise them with Reading's rich history!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093300011682&sk=events

We're also doing a walk on Christmas Day for those who would otherwise be alone. Details on the link above.

13/10/2023

On this day in 1958 the 1st Paddington Bear book was published. Author Michael Bond was brought up in & got his inspiration for the books from seeing child evacuees from London in WW2 arriving at Reading station with labels around their necks with requests to their adoptees.

Please look after this bear!

09/10/2023

John Lennon was born on this day in 1940. was the scene of his first and only appearance with Paul McCartney as the Nerk Twins in a gig in Caversham. If you have an original flyer tucked away somewhere you might want to up your insurance!

06/10/2023

George Blackall Simonds was born on this day in 1843. Part of the brewing family he was an accomplished sculptor and gave us the Maiwand Lion. He also has a work in New York's central park.
Contrary to popular legend he died aged 86 of natural causes!

02/10/2023

1875 map of station when it was 2 separate stations. The old Southern station can be seen bottom right marked as Terminus. Site now occupied by Apex Plaze & Railair coach station.

The goods station was closed after 1908 when the Central Goods Station and branch line was opened by County Lock on the Kennet. You can find out more about this on our Reading's Lost Railway walk this weekend.

Old station was closed in 1965.

25/09/2023

An Ordnance Survey base map of 1879 with the outline of Reading Abbey added in 1902.

Produced for Dr Hurry by B.A. Poulter - 1879 and 1902

This Ordnance Survey base map of 1879 clearly shows the Abbey Quarter.

The Plummery Wall, Inner Gateway, Reading Gaol and the standing Abbey Ruins are all very clearly highlighted on the map in red.

Dr Jamieson Boyd Hurry (1857-1930) was a local doctor with a particular interest in Reading Abbey and botany. He researched and wrote several books on the history of Reading Abbey. He also set up the cross that can be seen in Forbury Gardens that marks the approximate position of the corner of the nave of the abbey church.

17/09/2023

"Autumn glows upon us like a splendid evening. It is the very sunset of the year"

Mary Russell Mitford - author and resident.

What better way to enjoy it than on one of our October walks. Programme now online https://walk-reading.co.uk/book-a-walk

Come and join us on one of our Reading walking tours

07/09/2023

Morning sun on St Mary's Church in Castle St. The current frontage was added in 1840 by local architect Henry Briant. Inside is a late 18th c. gallery in 5 bays

02/09/2023

As it is here's John Blagrave, mathematician, astronomer and man. The mathematical jewel is perhaps his most famous work. Decent if unfancy face hair as well

01/09/2023

More of a "where is it?" this week as the "what" should be obvious

28/08/2023

A map of Barkshire showing its hundreds by Richard Blome c.1673. A hundred was an Anglo Saxon measure of land but there is no established modern equivalent. A hundred could have been based on 100 hides (c.120 acres) but this is not clear

26/08/2023

As it is here's Bobby. He was a stray from the streets of who survived the Battle of Maiwand and was presented with a medal by Queen Victoria. The Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens commemorates this battle

21/08/2023

1837 Map of Reading (from the Ordnance Survey) lithographic plan by R.K.Dawson, with original hand colour. Produced to illustrate the boundaries as established by the Boundaries Act passed 11th July 1832

17/08/2023

This weeks "what / where is it" competition. Any ideas people?

16/08/2023

Historic England have just released a batch of WW2 era ariel photos on their website that includes some of including this one showing the town from the west. https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/

14/08/2023

The Railway Clearing House calculated how much money railway companies owed each other for running services over each others’ tracks. To help the clerks involved very detailed maps were produced. This shows the area including the now lost line to the Central Goods Depot

10/08/2023

St James's Church in Designed by prolific architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in an unusual (for him) Romanesque style in a nod to the adjacent Reading Abbey ruins.

03/08/2023

Back to St Laurence's Church in for It used to have a six-arched loggia known as Blagrave's Piazza along the south wall that was erected in 1619 and included a small lockup

01/08/2023

Ahead of our weekend walks ( at War & Forbury Gardens) it's time for the "what / where is it?" competition. Any ideas?

31/07/2023

Happy people of !

This one is from 1802 and has some interesting features. Gunter's Brook bottom right runs roughly along a line now taken by the Kennet and Avon Canal

27/07/2023

Door to which dates to the 16th century and has been a pub since 1828

26/07/2023

Had a great group last night for the Kennet & Avon Canal walk in Lovely evening for a walk. Why not join us at the weekend?

22/07/2023

Well we certainly got wet but I think everybody had a good time on our at War walk. The question about the reproductive organs of the Maiwand Lion has to win "most unexpected question so far" award!