Reading Abbey is a large, ruined abbey in the centre of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. It was founded by Henry I in 1121 "for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of King William, my father, and of King William, my brother, and Queen Maud, my wife, and all my ancestors and successors." In its heyday the abbey was one of Europe's largest royal monasteries. The traditions of the Abbey are continued today by the neighbouring St James's Church, which is partly built using stones of the Abbey ruins.
The chapter house, from the site of the monks' dormitory
Burial of Henry I at Reading Abbey in 1136, painted by Harry Morley (1916)
The interior of the ruined chapter house
Restoration of an arch done in 2004
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
