871 and All That

Reading’s story starts in January 871 and proceeds through more than 1000 years of history as we stroll through the, sometimes, ancient thoroughfares of central Reading.

Type of Walk
Guided tour - learning something new / more talking and less walking

More detail
This walk starts in the Anglo-Saxon period at St Mary's Butts Church and traces the story of the town up to the present as we stroll through the, sometimes, ancient thoroughfares of central Reading. We will visit sites used by our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, be amazed at the expertise of builders of the 12th century, wonder at the changes in the Tudor period, grieve for those suffering for their beliefs during the Stuart years, marvel at the elegance of the long 18th century in Reading, and admire some of the industries that put Reading on the map in more modern times. Not forgetting some of the philanthropists along the way.             

Walk length / difficulty / accessibility
2.5 km / 1.5 mile / 2 hours / easy / not wheelchair accessible

Ticket price
£3

About the walk leader
Joy Pibworth is passionately interested in the long and varied history of Reading, a "much undervalued town" (John Betjeman), and loves to share her knowledge with other people.           

Getting there
The Minster, St Mary Butts. Short walk from Reading Station and most central Reading bus stops.
W3W https://what3words.com/shady.aims.like