Editing Reading, Berkshire (section)

==Culture==
===Festivals===
[[File:Reading Festival 2007, bird's eye view 2.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of [[Reading and Leeds Festivals|Reading Festival]] 2007]]
Every year Reading hosts the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals|Reading Festival]], which has been running since 1971.<ref>{{cite web|title=Festival History|url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/social-history/reading-festival/festival-history/|work=[[Reading Museum]]|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531101416/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/social-history/reading-festival/festival-history|archive-date=31 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reading Festival: A history as 2010 line up announced|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8593000/8593803.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=12 June 2011|date=29 March 2010|first=Jenny|last=Minard|archive-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208134204/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8593000/8593803.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The festival takes place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August [[bank holiday]] weekend and is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom aside from the [[Glastonbury Festival]]. Reading Festival takes place at Little Johns Farm in Reading, Richfield Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Reading Festival Location|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/index.php?s=Location&t=info|access-date=1 February 2021|website=|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207095322/https://www.readingfestival.com/index.php?s=Location&t=info|url-status=live}}</ref> For some twenty years until 2006, Reading was also known for its [[WOMAD Charlton Park|WOMAD Festival]] until it moved to [[Charlton Park, Wiltshire|Charlton Park]] in [[Malmesbury]], [[Wiltshire]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,765215,00.html|title=WOMAD in Reading|access-date=6 July 2006|work=[[guardian.co.uk]]|publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]|location=London|first=Deborah|last=Schofield|date=5 August 2002|archive-date=22 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122084640/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,765215,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5403836.stm|title=Womad venue change after 17 years|access-date=20 October 2006|date=3 October 2006|archive-date=7 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007075510/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5403836.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The Reading [[Beer Festival]] was first held in 1994<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/food_and_drink/s/2049954_reading_beer_festival_family_friendly_fun|title=Reading Beer Festival: family friendly fun|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=13 June 2009|date=30 April 2009|first=Jonny|last=Fordham|archive-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605160021/http://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/food_and_drink/s/2049954_reading_beer_festival_family_friendly_fun|url-status=live}}</ref> and has now grown to one of the largest beer festivals in the United Kingdom. It is held at [[King's Meadow, Reading|King's Meadow]] for the five days immediately preceding the [[May Day]] bank holiday every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingbeerfestival.org.uk/|title=18th Reading CAMRA Beer and Cider Festival|publisher=Reading Beer Festival|access-date=13 June 2009|archive-date=26 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626220628/http://www.readingbeerfestival.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> Reading also holds [[Reading Pride]], an annual [[LGBT]] festival in Kings Meadow.

===Venues===
The [[Frank Matcham]]-designed Royal County Theatre, built in 1895, was located on the south side of Friar Street. It burned down in 1937.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading Theatre|url=http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/enter/theatre.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805235231/http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/enter/theatre.html |archive-date=5 August 2011|publisher=Reading History Trail|access-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> Within the [[town hall]] is a 700-seat [[concert hall]] that houses a [[Henry Willis & Sons|Father Willis]] organ.<ref>{{cite web|title=Concert Hall|url=http://www.readingarts.com/concerthall/informationforpromotershirers/|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=26 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511185347/http://www.readingarts.com/concerthall/informationforpromotershirers/|archive-date=11 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reading [[theatre]] venues include [[The Hexagon]] and South Street Arts Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingarts.com/thehexagon|title=The Hexagon Reading Arts|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607225702/http://www.readingarts.com/thehexagon|archive-date=7 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingarts.com/southstreet|title=21 South Street|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=14 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403040650/http://www.readingarts.com/southstreet/|archive-date=3 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reading Repertory Theatre is based at [[Reading College]]: its Royal Patron is [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite web |title=HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, Announced as Royal Patron |url=https://www.readingrep.com/stories/hrh-prince-edward-the-earl-of-wessex-announced-as-royal-patron/ |website=Reading Rep |access-date=1 November 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031122042/https://www.readingrep.com/stories/hrh-prince-edward-the-earl-of-wessex-announced-as-royal-patron/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Amateur theatre venues in Reading include [[Progress Theatre]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/|title=Progress Theatre homepage|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=15 March 2007|archive-date=11 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070411172248/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> a self-governing, self-funding theatre group and registered charity founded in 1947 that operates and maintains its own 97-seat theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingarts.com/othervenues/theprogresstheatre|title=Progress Theatre|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=14 March 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327102837/http://www.readingarts.com/othervenues/theprogresstheatre/|archive-date=27 March 2007}}</ref> Rabble Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-27 |title=RABBLE Theatre |url=https://rabbletheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |language=en-GB}}</ref> in Caversham and Reading Rep<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reading Rep Theatre {{!}} Multi-Award-Winning theatre {{!}} Berkshire |url=https://www.readingrep.com/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Reading Rep Theatre |language=en}}</ref> on London Road offer classic and contemporary performances. Jelly<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jelly is an arts charity based in Reading, UK. |url=https://www.jelly.org.uk/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Jelly |language=en-US}}</ref> is an artist-led organisation that has been committed to improving access to the arts since 1993. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Readingszone |url=https://readingszone.com/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Cultural references===
[[File:Reading Abbey Inner Gatehouse, The Forbury - geograph.org.uk - 397564.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Abbey Gateway, Reading|Abbey Gateway]], where [[Jane Austen]] went to school]]
[[Jane Austen]] attended Reading Ladies [[Boarding School]], based in the [[Abbey Gateway, Reading|Abbey Gateway]], in 1784–1786.<ref name=rbhja>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jausten.html |title=Biographies: Jane Austen (1775–1817) |author=Ford, David Nash |year=2001 |work=Royal Berkshire History |publisher=Nash Ford Publishing |access-date=28 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514055751/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jausten.html |archive-date=14 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Mary Russell Mitford]] lived in Reading for a number of years and then spent the rest of her life just outside the town at [[Three Mile Cross]] and [[Swallowfield]].<ref name=rbhmrm>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/mrmitford.html |title=Biographies: Mary Russell Mitford (1787–1865) |author=Ford, David Nash |year=2003 |work=Royal Berkshire History |publisher=Nash Ford Publishing |access-date=28 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606051318/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/mrmitford.html |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The fictional ''[[Belford Regis]]'' of her eponymous novel,<ref>Mary Russell Mitford, ''Belford Regis; or Sketches of a Country Town'', 3 vols., London 1835</ref> first published in 1835, is largely based on Reading. Described with [[topographical]] accuracy, it is still possible to follow the steps of the novel's characters in present-day Reading. Reading also appears in the works of [[Thomas Hardy]] where it is called 'Aldbrickham'.<ref name="Hardy1999">{{cite book|author=Thomas Hardy|title=Jude the Obscure|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cybhDUKw79MC&pg=PA498|date=7 July 1999|publisher=Broadview Press|isbn=978-1-55111-171-1|pages=498|access-date=13 April 2020|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005353/https://books.google.com/books?id=cybhDUKw79MC&pg=PA498|url-status=live}}</ref> It features most heavily in his final novel, [[Jude the Obscure]], as the temporary home of Jude Fawley and Sue Bridehead.

[[Oscar Wilde]] was imprisoned in [[Reading (HM Prison)|Reading Gaol]] from 1895 to 1897. While there, he wrote his letter [[De Profundis (letter)|''De Profundis'']]. After his release, he lived in exile in [[France]] and wrote ''[[The Ballad of Reading Gaol]]'', based on his experience of the execution of [[Charles Thomas Wooldridge|Charles Wooldridge]], carried out in Reading Gaol whilst he was imprisoned there.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Walk on the Wilde Side of Reading|url=http://www.theaa.com/walks/a-walk-on-the-wilde-side-of-reading-420103|publisher=[[The Automobile Association]]|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209025242/http://www.theaa.com/walks/a-walk-on-the-wilde-side-of-reading-420103|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Oscar Wilde: Prisoner C33|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/bigread/bigread_wilde.shtml|work=[[BBC Berkshire]]|publisher=BBC|location=London|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=18 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018033754/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/bigread/bigread_wilde.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2021, street artist [[Banksy]] claimed responsibility for a painting on the wall of the jail. It depicted an inmate escaping with bedsheets and a typewriter, said to resemble [[Oscar Wilde]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-04 |title=Banksy confirms escaping prisoner artwork at Reading Prison |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-56243680 |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Reading was the location of the world's first commercial studio for photograph printing, which was set up by [[Henry Fox Talbot|William Henry Fox Talbot]] in 1844.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Andrews |first=Martin J. |title=Fox Talbot & the Reading Establishment |date=2014 |publisher=Two Rivers Press |isbn=978-1-901677-98-0 |location=Reading}}</ref>   

[[Ricky Gervais]], who is from Reading, made the film ''[[Cemetery Junction (film)|Cemetery Junction]]'', which, although filmed elsewhere in the United Kingdom, is set in 1970s Reading and is named after [[Cemetery Junction, Reading|a busy junction]] in [[East Reading]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant on Cemetery Junction|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8620000/8620268.stm|work=[[BBC Berkshire]]|publisher=BBC|location=London|access-date=8 June 2011|date=14 April 2010|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806153846/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8620000/8620268.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cemetery Junction starring the Reading Post|url=http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_cinema/s/2069326_cemetery_junction_starring_the_reading_post|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=8 June 2011|date=14 April 2010|first=Linda|last=Fort|archive-date=1 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801061659/http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_cinema/s/2069326_cemetery_junction_starring_the_reading_post|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ricky Gervais is going Up the Junction|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2049012_ricky_gervais_is_going_up_the_junction|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=8 June 2011|date=16 April 2009|first=Anna|last=Roberts|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125180847/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2049012_ricky_gervais_is_going_up_the_junction|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jasper Fforde]]'s Nursery Crimes Division novels, ''[[The Big Over Easy]]'' and ''[[The Fourth Bear]]'', are also placed in Reading. The [[BBC Two]] sitcom ''[[Beautiful People (British TV series)|Beautiful People]]'', based on the memoirs of [[Simon Doonan]], is set in Reading in the late 1990s.

===Landmarks===
[[File:Forbury Gardens, Reading.jpg|thumb|right|The ''[[Maiwand Lion]]'' in [[Forbury Gardens]]]]
The ''[[Maiwand Lion]]'' in [[Forbury Gardens]], an unofficial symbol of Reading, commemorates the 328 officers of the [[Royal Berkshire Regiment]] who died in the [[Battle of Maiwand]] in 1880.{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=135}}<ref>{{cite news|title=The Maiwand Lion|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2009/07/27/maiwand_lion_history_feature.shtml|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=11 June 2011|date=27 July 2009|first=Linda|last=Serck|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604224349/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2009/07/27/maiwand_lion_history_feature.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> There are a [[List of public art in Reading, Berkshire|number of other works of public art]] in Reading. [[The Blade Reading|The Blade]], a fourteen-storey building completed in 2009, is {{convert|86|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall and can be seen from the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Introduction|url=http://www.thebladereading.com/|publisher=The Blade Reading|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=13 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013184544/http://www.thebladereading.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jacksons Corner with its prominent sign, former home of [[Jacksons (department store)|Jacksons]] department store, occupies the corner of Kings Road and High Street, just south of the Market Place.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-25270010 | title = Jacksons Corner department store has closed after 138 years | work = bbc.co.uk | publisher = BBC | date = 24 December 2014 | access-date = 20 June 2018 | archive-date = 24 November 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181124051956/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-25270010 | url-status = live }}</ref> 

Reading has two [[scheduled monument]]s, six Grade I, 22 Grade II* and 853 Grade II [[listed buildings]], in a wide variety of architectural styles that range from the medieval to the 21st century. The scheduled monuments are [[Reading Abbey]] and [[High Bridge, Reading|High Bridge]], whilst the Grade I listed buildings are Reading Abbey, the [[Abbey Gateway, Reading|Abbey Gateway]], [[Greyfriars Church, Reading|Greyfriars Church]], [[St Laurence's Church, Reading|St Laurence's Church]], [[Reading Minster]], and the barn at Chazey Farmhouse on the Warren.<ref>{{cite web|title=Listed Buildings in Reading, Berkshire, England|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/berkshire/reading|work=British Listed Buildings|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=28 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528135815/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/berkshire/reading|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Guide to Listed Buildings|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/businesses/Planning/PlanningApplicationService/guide-to-listed-buildings/|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521213426/http://www.reading.gov.uk/businesses/Planning/PlanningApplicationService/guide-to-listed-buildings/|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Media===
Reading has a local newspaper, the ''[[Reading Chronicle]]'', published on Thursdays. The town's other local newspaper, the ''[[Reading Post]]'', ceased publication on paper in December 2014, in order to transition to an online only format under the title ''getreading''. As of 2018, ''getreading'' joined the InYourArea local news network.<ref>{{cite web |title=getreading - InYourArea |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/tag/getreading/ |website=InYourArea |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-date=6 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180606011118/https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/tag/getreading/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A local publishing company, the [[Two Rivers Press]], has published over 70 book titles, many on the topic of local history and art.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/news/exhibitions/sc-exhibition-tworivers.aspx | title = 15 years of Two Rivers Press | publisher = [[University of Reading]] | access-date = 13 June 2014 | archive-date = 14 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714120509/http://www.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/news/exhibitions/sc-exhibition-tworivers.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://tworiverspress.com/wp/about/ | title = About | publisher = Two Rivers Press | access-date = 13 June 2014 | archive-date = 14 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714143846/http://tworiverspress.com/wp/about/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Three local radio stations broadcast from Reading: [[BBC Radio Berkshire]], [[Heart South]] and [[Greatest Hits Radio South|Greatest Hits Radio Berkshire and North Hampshire]]. Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC South]] and [[ITV Meridian]], [[BBC London]] & [[ITV London]] can also be received. Reading has one local television station, [[That's Thames Valley]], which broadcasts local news throughout the Greater Reading area.