Town Hall Square
and St Laurence's
The Town Hall complex
The Town Hall was designed by renowned Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse, and built between 1872-75. The Victorian Gothic complex is made up of three linked buildings: The Town Hall, The Museum of Reading and the Concert Hall. The Town Hall incorporates the original Georgian assembly rooms and, together with the Concert Hall containing the famous Willis Organ, creates a popular venue for arts and business events.
The Museum and Art Gallery dates from 1894 and provides permanent displays on Reading's history, as well as the famous Biscuit Gallery telling the story of Huntley and Palmers. The Silchester Gallery has amazing artefacts from Roman life in nearby Calleva Artebatum (modern Silchester) and you can also discover the world's only full scale facsimile of the Bayeux Tapestry (a Victorian copy that edits only some of the male "highlights" from the original). The Museum and Town Hall are linked by a corridor that celebrates Reading's 60 year twinning link with Dusseldorf.
On Town Hall Square stands a statue of Queen Victoria (by Blackall Simonds) - one of hundreds that appeared all over Britain to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Queen in 1887. It is said she stands with her back to the town to show her displeasure at the fact she was booed by local people on one of her visits here.
St Laurence's Church and Graveyard
You will also find one of Reading's most beautiful ancient churches on Town Hall Square - St. Laurence's. Originally part of the Abbey's buildings, this was the townspeople's church and it has survived over 800 years of change, including a bomb blast that severely damaged the whole area during World War II. St Laurence's is now a centre for youth outreach work, still working at the heart of our community.
Blessed Hugh Farringdon, the last Abbot of Reading was hanged, drawn and quartered in front of St Laurence's in 1539. He met his end when he refused to accept Henry VIII as leader of the English church during the Reformation.
Many interesting tombstones dating from the 1700s can be found in St Laurence's Churchyard, but the most surprising memorial is a simple wooden plaque situated near the path by Forbury Road gate. This is a memorial to Henry West, who was killed in 1840 when a freak whirlwind threw him from the roof of the new station being constructed by the Great Western Railway Company.
