The Real Cemetery Junction

Cemetery Junction is the local name for the junction of the A329 and A4 to the east of Reading town centre.

The area is named after the large municipal cemetery which contains the graves of most of the historically noteworthy occupants of the town during the period 1843–1970. Now maintained as a nature conservation site, the cemetery is of great local historical interest, being the home to many large memorials, two of which are Grade 2 listed.

Several Muntjac deer have also been known to live in the safe, walled haven of the cemetery.

Cemetery Junction, an instantly recognisable part of Reading, is one of the most culturally diverse, and is also an area where many students live due to its prime location between the two Thames Valley University Campuses, and its proximity to the University of Reading. Students from the TVU campuses include many Arts students studying courses in drama, film and photography, some of whom have used the area as a filming location for short films.

Retail offer in the area is (not surprsinlgy!) biased towards takeaway outlets, inlcuding a few kebab shops and the legendary Mr Cod, but also include a sari shop and a stained glass manufacturer.  Pubs include student favourite The Upin Arms (formerly the Jack of Both Sides - it sits squarely between the two main roads), and popular gay venue The Granby.  The area even had its own cinema (also The Granby) until the late 80's. 

Arthur Hill Public Baths have been an important facility for the local community since Edwardian times, when residents could pay to take a bath - nowadays they use it to swim or work out, but the pools still feels very traditional with its poolside changing rooms.

The Warehouse, located on the Kings Road side, is organised by the Baptist church and a meeting place for a variety of arts and community groups. In fact the whole area is hub for creative industry - many designers, artists and musicians are based in the area, and the Whiteknights Studio Trail showcases the full spectrum of arts and crafts talent the area is home to (June). 

Cemetery Junction is now famous as the place Ricky Gervais' "coming of age" film is named after! The new film is set in Reading during the 1970's and tells the story of three young men growing up in a small town, reflecting some of the writer/director's own experiences growing up in Reading.  Actually, there is no station at Cemetery Junction (as depicted in the film) but it is a fascinating area of Reading - and one of the most culturally rich.