Heritage trail launched to celebrate Reading’s Georgian past

A new walking trail has been launched to showcase Reading’s Georgian heritage and highlight hundreds of historic buildings across the town centre.

The self-guided Georgian Walking Tour has been produced by Dr Stephen Gage, Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Reading, in partnership with Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency (REDA).

Its launch coincides with Heritage Open Days and builds on guided walks held earlier this year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.

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The leaflet takes visitors on two mapped routes, one east and one west of the town centre, which can also be combined into a longer trail.

It features some of Reading’s most notable Georgian landmarks, including Eldon Square, Albion Terrace, Watlington House, London Street and the original frontage of the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Dr Stephen Gage said: “Reading has a wonderful legacy of Georgian architecture if you know where to look.

“In the heyday of the stagecoach era, London Street and Castle Street developed into richly varied Georgian streetscapes, while the Kennet and Avon canal helped spur new genteel residential districts just outside the medieval town centre.

“Today, Reading has preserved much of this fine Georgian architecture, despite the developments of subsequent eras. This new walking tour aims to open people’s eyes to what surrounds us in plain sight, but which we don’t always appreciate, the beauty of Georgian Reading.”

How can you find out more about the Georgian Reading walking tour?

Copies of the leaflet are available from Reading Museum, local libraries, the tourism information kiosk at Reading Station, and online at www.visit-reading.com.

The trail will officially launch during Heritage Open Days with a guided walk titled Exploring the Architecture of Georgian Reading on Saturday, 13 September, which has already sold out.