Hospitium of St John the Baptist
The Hospitium of St John the Baptist was the hospitium, or dormitory for pilgrims, of Reading Abbey, which today is a large, ruined abbey in the centre of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. The hospitium was founded in 1189, and at its maximum comprised a range of buildings that could accommodate 400 people. The main building has survived, and is grade II listed. Much of the remainder of the original hospitium was located where Reading Town Hall now stands.
The former main building of the hospitium
The Hospitium seen from the churchyard, with Town Hall to left and office development behind
The north side of the Hospitium seen from the courtyard of the office development
The roof of the hospitium is seen in the centre here, surrounded by churchyard, Town Hall and offices
Reading is a town and borough in Berkshire, England. Most of its built-up area lies within the Borough of Reading, although some outer suburbs are parts of neighbouring local authority areas. Located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the rivers Thames and Kennet, Reading is 40 miles (64 km) east of Swindon, 25 miles (40 km) south of Oxford, 40 miles (64 km) west of London and 16 miles (26 km) north of Basingstoke.
Image: Reading roofscape on 2023 08 19 16.05.01
Image: Reading Town Hall, UK 20150707
Image: Oracle Riverside 2022 01 16 13.45.27
Image: Reading Minster, church tower
