The History of Reading

The History of Reading

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 871 is the earliest evidence for the

existence of Reading It was at some time during this period that the

Roman roads radiating from Silchester began to be replaced by roads

that met in Reading The area was mostly gravel and well-drained, but

was close to the rivers, which provided major transport and trade

routes.

By the time of the Domesday Survey (1086), Reading was a borough with

a population of 500 or so. It was not important enough to have a

castle.

The centre of Reading now moved eastwards. A new road was constructed,

and a new bridge over the Kennet, to funnel traffic towards the new

Market Place. The major industries were the manufacture of woollen

cloth, and of leather. When the site of the Oracle Shopping Centre was

being constructed in 1998, an unsuspected discovery was made; a

tannery was discovered, below the foundations of the original "Oracle"

which was a workhouse for poor cloth-workers.

The industrial Revolution

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