Reading Abbey

Reading Abbey stands in the centre of Reading, a town in Berkshire. It was founded in 1121 by Henry I as a royal monastery, one of Europe’s largest at the time. The abbey was built between the rivers Kennet and Thames, where gravel spurs provided a firm base. Monks from Cluny and Lewes arrived to establish the community, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist. The first abbot, Hugh of Amiens, later became archbishop of Rouen. The abbey’s position made it a natural stopping point for travellers heading to England’s major cities. The abbey became one of medieval England’s most important pilgrimage centres, rich in relics and royal patronage. It held over 230 relics, including the hand of St James, found in 1786 and now kept in St Peter’s Catholic Church, Marlow. The earliest known six-part harmony from Britain, *Sumer is icumen in*, was written down here around 1240. Kings such as Henry III visited regularly, sometimes staying for weeks. Important events included the wedding of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster in 1359 and a Parliament meeting in 1453. Today the ruins show parts of the abbey church, chapter house and dormitory. The chapter house, with its triple entrance and three great windows, is the best preserved. A private garden now occupies the cloister site, and a surviving wall marks the refectory. The Abbey Gateway was restored and reopened in 2018 after a £3 million project. Nearby, St James’s Church and Forbury Gardens occupy parts of the original site. The ruins remain a Grade I listed Scheduled monument, open to visitors.