The Royal Berkshire Hospital “Building on its Heritage”
Heritage Open Days 2023
In the 75th year of the founding of the NHS two presentations will be given in the Old Pathology Library. They will explain the history of the building of the Royal Berks Hospital & give an update on the future options for the hospital.
In 1836 Henry Addington, former Prime Minister and local Reading resident donated four square acres of his land for the hospital. The hospital was then built with funds donated by the Great Western Railway, the Benyon family, and from the local community, and was opened in 1839. Initially, the Royal Berkshire Hospital was a voluntary hospital, funded entirely by donations.
Richard Havelock (Chair Mgt. Cmte. Medical Museum) will give an overview of the history of the Royal Berkshire Hospital Buildings, he will doubtless also go into the challenges before and after the NHS.
Alison Foster (Programme Director of Building Berkshire Together, RBNHSFT) will then look at today and the challenges the Hospital faces with the increased population served from a constrained site with some of the original buildings. We will hear how feedback from recent engagement events is shaping the vision for the future.
The presentation will take place in the Old Pathology Library. This has seating for 50 people.
You may arrive from 6:00pm. The presentations will start at 6:30 and with Q+A will end around 8:00pm.
After the presentations a couple of small groups may be able visit briefly the 1911 Edward VII Children's ward, with tile murals of nursery rhymes, & the Medical Heritage Centre.
There is no charge for the event. Donations are encouraged to the Museum & the Royal Berkshire Charity. There will be a collecting bucket on the day.
