Broad Street

Reading's main shopping street, Broad Street was laid out shortly after the foundation of Reading Abbey in 1120. It appeared as 'Brode Stret' on John Speed's map of 1611 and hosted the Glorious Revolution's only battle in 1688. Until 1862, its eastern end comprised two narrow, parallel streets - Butcher Row & Fisher Row.

The eastern end of Broad Street was pedestrianised in 1997 and re-paved with red brick in 2001.

Reading

Reading is a town in the English county of Berkshire. It is regarded as the county town although, since the county council was abolished in 1998, that is a distinction of traditional rather than practical significance. It is the UK's largest town, having been denied official city status no less than four times - in 2000, 2002, 2012 and 2022. As such, it remains a borough, and has held that status since at least the time of the Domesday Book in 1068. A royal charter, granting independence from control by Reading Abbey, was issued in 1253. A second charter was issued in 1542, reflecting the abbey's dissolution in 1538. Since 1998, the borough has been a unitary authority.

Go to left end of street
This will take you to the scene containing the leftmost building on the side of the street that you are facing.

Go to middle of street
This will take you to a scene that is approximately halfway along the side of the street that you are facing.

Go to right end of street
This will take you to the scene containing the rightmost building on the side of the street that you are facing.

Open street map
This will take you to a page displaying a clickable street map from which you may navigate to any scene in this street.

Go to next left
This will shift you leftwards down the street by one scene.

Go forward
This would let you move forward into an adjoining street. However, there is not yet another street available for you to do that.

Face other side of street
This will turn you about 180° so that you are facing a scene on the opposite side of the street.

Go to next right
This will shift you righttwards down the street by one scene.

Open year selector
This will take you to a page displaying all the years that are currently available for the scene that you are looking at, any one of which may be clicked to navigate to that year.

Go to earliest year available
This will take you to the first year available for the scene that you are currently looking at.

Go to previous year
This will take the scene that you are currently looking at back one year in time. (This may or may not look any different depending on whether anything changed between those two years).

Go to next year
This will take the scene that you are currently looking at forward one year in time. (This may or may not look any different depending on whether anything changed between those two years).

Go to latest year available
This will take you to the most recent year available for the scene that you are currently looking at.

Building:
Former National Provincial Bank building

This building was erected for the National Provincial Bank in 1955 (which later merged with Natwest). It was sold by the bank and converted into shops in 1985.

 

No. 6, Ground Floor
Virgin Media (telecommunications retailer)

Formed by a merger of NTL:Telewest and Virgin Mobile in 2007, Virgin Media offered telephone, TV and internet services. It merged with O2 in 2021.

2008 - Ethical toiletries retailer The Body Shop was replaced by mobile phone company Virgin Mobile. The latter opened for business with a remodelled shop front, which now gave The View direct street access instead of having to enter through No. 6

 

No. 6, 1st Floor
The View (hairdresser)

The View was a unisex salon founded by hairdresser Alex Cann in 2006, who had trained with Haringtons. The business was wound up and dissolved in 2016.

2008 - A Broad Street entrance with access was constructed as part of a remodelled shop front for No. 6. This gave The View its own direct street access instead of via that shop.

 

Nos. 4-5
Early Learning Centre (toy shop)

A retailer of educational toys for infants, Early Learning Centre was founded in London Street, Reading in 1974. It was part of Mothercare from 2007 until 2019, when it was bought by The Entertainer.