Editing Reading, Berkshire (section)

==Public services==
[[File:Royal Berkshire Hospital 3.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] original frontage, built in 1839 with [[bath stone]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Main Block and Flanking Wings at Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39019-main-block-and-flanking-wings-at-royal-be|work=British Listed Buildings|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-date=30 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130214400/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39019-main-block-and-flanking-wings-at-royal-be|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

===Parks and open spaces===
Reading has over 100 parks and playgrounds, including {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} of riverside paths. In the town centre is [[Forbury Gardens]], a public park built on the site of the outer court of [[Reading Abbey]]. The largest public park in Reading is [[Prospect Park, Reading|Prospect Park]], an estate in west Reading previously owned by Frances Kendrick but acquired by Reading Corporation in 1901. This is complemented by [[Palmer Park, Reading|Palmer Park]], a purpose built public park in east Reading gifted to the town by the proprietors of [[Huntley & Palmers]] in 1889.<ref>{{cite web| title=Parks and Open Spaces |url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/NaturalEnvironment/ParksandOpenSpaces/ |publisher=Reading Borough Council |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424084105/http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/NaturalEnvironment/ParksandOpenSpaces/ |archive-date=24 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=141}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Prospect Park |url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/ParksandOpenSpaces/ProspectPark/ |publisher=Reading Borough Council |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426021744/http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/ParksandOpenSpaces/ProspectPark/ |archive-date=26 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

A string of open spaces stretch along one or other side of the River Thames throughout its passage through Reading. From west to east these are [[Thameside Promenade]], [[Caversham Court]], [[Christchurch Meadows, Reading|Christchurch Meadows]], [[Hills Meadow]], [[View Island]] and [[King's Meadow, Reading|King's Meadow]]. Reading also has five [[local nature reserve]]s: [[Clayfield Copse]] in [[Caversham, Reading|Caversham]], with the other four [[McIlroy Park]], [[Blundells Copse]], [[Lousehill Copse]] and [[Round Copse]] all in [[Tilehurst]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/outdoors/parks-outdoor-facilities-open-spaces/ |title=Parks, Outdoor Facilities & Open Spaces |publisher=[[Reading Borough Council]] |access-date=28 June 2022 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628104835/https://www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/outdoors/parks-outdoor-facilities-open-spaces/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271008844%27 |title=Magic Map Application |publisher=Magic.defra.gov.uk |access-date=11 April 2017 |archive-date=11 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411055600/http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271008844%27 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/aspects-of-suburban-landscapes/aspects-suburban-landscapes.pdf/ |title=Aspects of Suburban Landscapes |publisher=Historic England |access-date=9 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410133019/https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/aspects-of-suburban-landscapes/aspects-suburban-landscapes.pdf/ |archive-date=10 April 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Healthcare===
The principal [[National Health Service]] (NHS) hospital in Reading is the [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]], founded in 1839 and much enlarged and rebuilt since.<ref>{{cite web|title=Royal Berkshire Hospital|url=http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/about_us/our_locations/royal_berkshire_hospital.aspx?theme=Patient|publisher=[[National Health Service|NHS]]|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721051342/http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/about_us/our_locations/royal_berkshire_hospital.aspx?theme=Patient|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> A second major NHS [[general hospital]], the [[Battle Hospital]], closed in 2005.<ref name=bhhist>{{cite web | url = http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/news/book-launch-battle-hospital-history.php | title = Book Launch: Battle Hospital History | work=[[Royal Berkshire Hospital]]|publisher=[[National Health Service|NHS]]| access-date =25 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222759/http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/news/book-launch-battle-hospital-history.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> [[Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust]] runs a NHS hospital, Prospect Park Hospital, which specialises in the provision of care for people with mental health and learning disabilities.<ref name=pphosp>{{cite web | url = http://www.berkshirehct.nhs.uk/index.asp | title = Welcome to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust | work = [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] | publisher = [[National Health Service|NHS]] | access-date = 25 April 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070417233037/http://www.berkshirehct.nhs.uk/index.asp | archive-date = 17 April 2007 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Reading has three private hospitals: the Berkshire Independent Hospital in [[Coley Park]], the Dunedin Hospital situated on the main [[A4 road (Great Britain)|A4]] [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] Road, and the [[Circle (healthcare partnership)|Circle Hospital]] at Kennet Island.<ref name=caprh>{{cite web | title = Capio Reading Private Hospital | url = http://www.capio.co.uk/Find+a+hospital/chooseyourhospital/CapioHospitals/Capio+Reading+Hospital.htm | publisher=Capio Healthcare UK | access-date =25 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070315084814/http://www.capio.co.uk/Find+a+hospital/chooseyourhospital/CapioHospitals/Capio+Reading+Hospital.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 15 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=How to find Spire Dunedin Hospital|url=http://www.spirehealthcare.com/dunedin/Find-or-Contact-Us/|publisher=Spire Healthcare|access-date=25 June 2011|archive-date=16 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516040842/http://www.spirehealthcare.com/dunedin/Find-or-Contact-Us/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.circlepartnership.co.uk/about-circle/media/mri-milestone-in-circlereading-construction | title = MRI Milestone in CircleReading construction | publisher = Circle Holdings plc | access-date = 29 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121106214131/http://www.circlepartnership.co.uk/about-circle/media/mri-milestone-in-circlereading-construction | archive-date = 6 November 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===Utilities===
Mains water and sewerage services are provided by [[Thames Water|Thames Water Utilities Limited]], a private sector water supply company, whilst water abstraction and disposal is regulated by the [[Environment Agency]]. Reading's water supply is largely derived from underground [[aquifers]], and as a consequence the water is [[hard water|hard]].<ref name=wateruk>{{cite web | title = Water and sewerage operators | publisher = Water UK | access-date = 11 June 2008 | url = http://www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/links/water-operators/sewerage-operators | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080623204834/http://www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/links/water-operators/sewerage-operators | archive-date = 23 June 2008 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=eawr>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/?lang=_e |title=Water Resources |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=11 June 2008 |archive-date=9 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609195124/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/?lang=_e |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=eawq>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterquality/?lang=_e |title=Water Quality |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=11 June 2008 |archive-date=28 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728093916/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterquality/?lang=_e |url-status=live }}</ref>

The commercial energy supplier for electricity and gas is at the consumer's choice. [[SSEN]] runs the local electricity distribution network, while [[SGN (company)|SGN]] runs the gas distribution network. A notable part of the local energy infrastructure is the presence of a 2 [[megawatt]] (peak) [[Enercon]] [[wind turbine]] at [[Green Park Business Park]], with the potential to produce 2.7&nbsp;million [[kWh]] of electricity a year, enough to power over a thousand homes.<ref name=ecotricity>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/our-green-electricity/from-the-wind/wind-parks-gallery/green-park-reading |title=Green Park, Reading |publisher=Ecotricity |access-date=11 June 2008 |archive-date=30 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130040537/http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/our-green-electricity/from-the-wind/wind-parks-gallery/green-park-reading |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, [[Reading Hydro]] runs a [[micro hydro|micro hydroelectric power station]] on the Thames. Reading had its own [[Reading power station UK|power station]] in Vastern Road from 1895 to the 1960s. The power station was initially owned and operated by the Reading Electric Supply Company Limited, then from 1933 by the Reading Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garrett|first=Frederick|title=Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56|publisher=Electrical Press|year=1959|location=London|pages=A-87}}</ref>

The [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|dialling code]] for fixed-line telephones in Reading is 0118. [[BT Group plc|BT]] provides fixed-line telephone coverage throughout the town and [[Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line|ADSL]] [[Broadband Internet access|broadband internet]] connection to most areas. Parts of Reading are cabled by [[Virgin Media]], supplying cable television, telephone and broadband internet connections. [[Hyperoptic]] also has a presence in the town, supplying Fibre-to-the-Premises ([[FTTP]]) broadband internet connections at speeds of up to 1&nbsp;Gbit/s.<ref>{{cite web |title=UK's fastest broadband now live in Reading |url=https://www.hyperoptic.com/company-history/posts/uks-fastest-broadband-now-live-in-reading/ |website=Hyperoptic |access-date=25 March 2020 |archive-date=25 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325160057/https://www.hyperoptic.com/company-history/posts/uks-fastest-broadband-now-live-in-reading/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Education===
{{See also|List of schools in Reading}}
[[File:The University of Reading.jpg|thumb|right|Part of the [[University of Reading]]'s main [[Whiteknights Park|Whiteknights Campus]]]]
[[File:Museum of English Rural Life 2.jpg|thumb|right|The Museum of English Rural Life's rear garden, with the original East Thorpe House in the centre]]
[[Reading School]] (a [[state school|state]] [[grammar school]]), founded in 1125,<ref name="old-redingensians" /> is the 16th oldest school in England.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.readingschool.reading.sch.uk/page.asp?sec=School_History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722123930/http://www.readingschool.reading.sch.uk/page.asp?sec=School_History|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2011|publisher=Reading School|access-date=12 June 2011}}</ref> There are six other [[state school|state]] [[secondary schools]] and 38 state [[primary schools]] within the borough, together with a number of [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private schools]] and nurseries.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Schools|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/EducationandLearning/Schools/ListofSchools/|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411050650/http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/EducationandLearning/Schools/ListofSchools|archive-date=11 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Alfred Sutton Boys' School closed in the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ww2.berkshirenclosure.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=SCH38|title=Records of Alfred Sutton Secondary Boys' School, Reading|last=Record Office|first=Berkshire|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225161854/http://ww2.berkshirenclosure.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=SCH38|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Reading College]] has provided [[further education]] in Reading since 1955, with over 8,500 local learners on over 900 courses.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.reading-college.ac.uk/about-us/ | title = About Reading College | publisher=Reading College | access-date =23 August 2010 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100817172041/http://www.reading-college.ac.uk/about-us/ <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date =17 August 2010}}</ref> English language schools in Reading include Gateway Languages, the English Language Centre, ELC London Street and [[Eurospeak Language School]].

The [[University of Reading]] was established in 1892 as an affiliate of [[Oxford University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The University of Reading is 85 years old|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/staffportal/news/articles/spsn-357935.aspx|publisher=[[University of Reading]]|access-date=12 June 2011|date=16 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125180507/http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/staffportal/news/articles/spsn-357935.aspx|archive-date=25 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> It moved to its [[London Road Campus]] in 1904 and to its new [[Whiteknights Park|Whiteknights Campus]] in 1947. It took over the Bulmershe College of [[Higher Education]], a [[teacher training college]], in 1989, becoming [[Bulmershe Court|Bulmershe Court Campus]]. The [[Henley Business School|Henley Management College]], situated in [[Buckinghamshire]] and about {{convert|10|mi}} from Reading, was taken over in 2008, becoming [[Greenlands Campus]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the University's Estates|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-estates.aspx|publisher=[[University of Reading]]|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521170141/http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-estates.aspx|archive-date=21 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[University of West London]] maintains a presence in the town for its higher education students, principally in [[nursing]], but has now divested itself of its previous ownership of [[Reading College]] and its [[further education]] students.<ref>{{cite web | title = Thames Valley University to become the 'University of West London' | publisher = Thames Valley University | url = http://www.uwl.ac.uk/the_university/tvu_to_become_uwl.jsp?ID=3644&Main_title=Thames%20Valley%20University%20to%20become%20'The%20University%20of%20West%20London' | date = 3 August 2010 | access-date = 23 August 2010 | archive-date = 25 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111125172442/http://www.uwl.ac.uk/the_university/tvu_to_become_uwl.jsp?ID=3644&Main_title=Thames%20Valley%20University%20to%20become%20%27The%20University%20of%20West%20London%27 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Libraries and museums===
The [[Reading Borough Libraries]] service dates back to 1877.{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=135}} Initially housed in [[Reading Town Hall]], the [[Reading Central Library|central branch of the library]] was relocated to a new building on King's Road in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Reading Central Library |url=http://www.readinglibraries.org.uk/aboutus/central.htm |publisher=Reading Borough Libraries |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-date=9 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009231105/http://www.readinglibraries.org.uk/aboutus/central.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Reading Museum]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 March 2017|title=Reading Museum|url=https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/reading-museum|access-date=18 September 2020|website=Reading Museum|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> opened in 1883 in the town's [[Reading Town Hall|municipal buildings]].{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=135}} It contains galleries relating to the history of Reading and to the excavations of [[Calleva Atrebatum]],{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=177}} together with a full-size [[bowdlerised]] replica of the [[Bayeux Tapestry]], an art collection, and galleries relating to [[Huntley & Palmers|Huntley and Palmers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Collections|url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/|work=[[Reading Museum]]|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-date=2 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602105243/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Museum of English Rural Life]], in [[East Reading]], is a museum dedicated to recording the changing face of farming and the countryside in England. It houses [[Designation Scheme|designated collections]] of national importance. It is owned and run by the [[University of Reading]], as are the [[Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology]], the [[Cole Museum of Zoology]] and the [[Harris Garden|Harris Botanic Gardens]], all of which can be found on the university's [[Whiteknights Campus]].<ref name=bbcopen>{{cite news | title = Doors set to open on rural museum | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/4638321.stm | work = [[BBC News]] | publisher = BBC | location = London | date = 30 June 2005 | access-date = 25 April 2009 | archive-date = 27 March 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220327221453/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/4638321.stm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=merlabout>{{cite web | url = http://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/about/merl-about.asp | title = About the Museum of English Rural Life | publisher = [[University of Reading]] | access-date = 24 April 2009 | archive-date = 20 June 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210620115306/https://merl.reading.ac.uk/about-us/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Museums and Special Collections|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-museums.aspx|publisher=[[University of Reading]]|access-date=12 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213215627/http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-museums.aspx|archive-date=13 February 2014}}</ref> The small [[Riverside Museum at Blake's Lock]] tells the story of Reading's two rivers. The [[Museum of Berkshire Aviation]] has a collection of aircraft and other artefacts relating to the aircraft industry in the town.<ref>{{cite web | title=Riverside Museum | work=Reading Library Service | url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/galleries/blakes.htm | access-date=17 September 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060824063511/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/galleries/blakes.htm |archive-date = 24 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/|publisher=Museum of Berkshire Aviation|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615234514/http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/|url-status=live}}</ref>