A grand but aged archway in yellow stone. Underneath, a patchy road with double yellow lines on both sides. In the distance, a modern building with blue-tinted glass. The Abbey Gateway was originally the inner gateway of Reading Abbey, and is one of only two abbey buildings that have survived intact. In the late 18th century, Reading Ladies’ Boarding School used the room above the gateway as a classroom for students including the novelist Jane Austen. Abbey Street, Reading, Berkshire, UK. Photo by Gearóid Burke.

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#Scape #Cityscape #ReadingAbbey #ReadingUK #JaneAusten #Photography

front cover of Empress Matilda Book with a drawing of Matilda

Have you heard about the Empress who almost became the first Queen of England?

Read more about her story and links to Reading in this new book by local publishers Town Rivers Press: rdguk.info/YtbUB

#RDG #RDGUK #ReadingAbbey #WomenWhoChangedTheWorld #ShopLocal

Elizabeth I painted in around 1575 and on display in Reading Museum. #readingmuseum #readingabbey #medieval #elizabethi #queenelizabeth

A 15thC depiction of the betrayal of Christ, found in the ruins of Reading Abbey and on display in Reading Museum. Note the medieval armour, with no attempt made to set the scene in the time of Christ #readingmuseum #readingabbey #sculpture #medievalart #medieval

A carved stone trefoil capital found in the ruins of Reading Abbey, which was founded in the early 12thC. On display in Reading Museum #readingabbey #readingmuseum #medievalart #medieval

Pieces of decorative stonework (some with traces of paint) from Reading Abbey, which was founded by Henry I in 1121 and was one of the wealthiest religious houses in England. On display in Reading Museum. #kinghenry #henryi #readingabbey #readingmuseum

Earliest known sculptural depiction of Coronation of the Virgin, from ruins of Reading Abbey and on display in museum there. 12thC. Interestingly, earliest depiction of Virgin’s Coronation is also English - in 10thC Benedictional of St Aethelwold #coronationofthevirgin #readingabbey #readingmuseum

Modern reproductions of Reading Abbey’s seal, on display in Reading Museum. On one side it depicts the Virgin Mary, St James and St John and on the other side the abbey’s founder, Henry I, who was buried there #readingabbey #readingmuseum #henryi #medieval #medievalking

Surviving gateway to Reading Abbey, which divided monks’ private area from the more public part of this once magnificent religious house. The last Abbot, Hugh Cook, hanged drawn and quartered close to here in 1539 after objecting to abbey’s closure #henryviii #readingabbey #abbeyruins #dissolution

Reading Abbey selfie 😆 #readingabbey #abbeyruins #dissolution #henryi #medieval #medievalking

The enormous Chapter House at Reading Abbey, founded by Henry I in 1121, clearly demonstrate house’s wealth. It would once have been lavishly decorated & was the place where the monks assembled each day. The abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539 #readingabbey #abbeyruins #disssolution #henryviii

Surviving ruins of Reading Abbey, founded by Henry I in 1121, give good sense of its importance. A parliament held there during reign of Henry VI. John of Gaunt wed his first wife Blanche of Lancaster there in 1359 #readingabbey #reading #kinghenry #henryi #henryviii #dissolutionofthemonasteries

A slightly soggy visit to the ruins of Reading Abbey, founded by Henry I in the early 12C and dissolved by his descendant Henry VIII in the 16thC. Henry I is probably still buried beneath the ruins #readingabbey #reading #henryi #henryviii

Memorial cross erected early 20thC on site of the great abbey church at Reading. Commemorates Henry I, who died in 1135 (apparently from a surfeit of lampreys) & was buried at Reading in the abbey he founded. Henry’s grave remains undiscovered #readingabbey #reading #henryi #medieval #henryviii

It’s one of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit.
(Niche post)
#ReadingAbbey

…though we know they took place – look for large backfilled evaluation trenches in the selling agent’s air photo (tarmaced trench on far left above hedge is very close to Henry I's grave). #ReadingGaol #ReadingAbbey 3/3

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