Reading Abbey 64116 225825962 2008-07-15T16:04:42Z GDallimore 980618 /* Remains */ website has undergone some updates. link to new page [[Image:Reading Abbey exterior.jpg|thumb|right|Reading Abbey]] [[Image:Reading Abbey and River Kennet.jpg|thumb|right|Reading Abbey and the River Kennet]] [[Image:ReadingAbbey.JPG|thumb|right|View from the site of the monks dormitory looking towards the chapter house]] '''Reading Abbey''' is a large, [[ruins|ruined]] [[abbey]] in the centre of the town of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], in the [[England|English]] county of [[Berkshire]]. It was founded by [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] in [[1121]] "''for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of [[William I of England|King William, my father]], and of [[William II of England|King William, my brother]], and [[Edith of Scotland|Queen Maud, my wife]], and all my ancestors and successors''".<ref name="rarwa">*{{cite book | author=The staff of the Trust for Wessex Archeology and Reading Museum and Art Gallery | title=Reading Abbey Rediscovered, a summary of the Abbey's history and recent archaeological excavations | publisher=Trust for Wessex Archeology | year=1983}}</ref> King Henry I is buried somewhere in the abbey grounds. ==History== Following its royal foundation, the abbey was established by a party of [[monks]] from the [[France|French]] abbey of [[Cluny]], together with monks from the Cluniac [[priory of St Pancras]] at [[Lewes]] in [[Sussex]]. The first abbot, in 1123, was [[Hugh of Amiens]]<ref>C. Warren Hollister, ''Henry I'' (2001), p. 282-3.</ref> According to the twelfth century chronicler [[William of Malmesbury]], the abbey was built on a gravel spur "''between the rivers Kennet and Thames, on a spot calculated for the reception of almost all who might have occasion to travel to the more populous cities of England''". The adjacent rivers provided convenient transport, and the abbey established [[wharf|wharves]] on the [[River Kennet]]. The Kennet also provided power for the abbey [[water mill]]s, most of which were established on the [[Holy Brook]], a channel of the Kennet of uncertain origin.<ref name="rarwa">*{{cite book | author=The staff of the Trust for Wessex Archeology and Reading Museum and Art Gallery | title=Reading Abbey Rediscovered, a summary of the Abbey's history and recent archaeological excavations | publisher=Trust for Wessex Archeology | year=1983 }}</ref> When Henry I died in [[France]] in [[1135]] his body was returned to Reading, and was buried in the front of the [[altar]] of the then incomplete abbey. Other royal persons buried in the abbey include parts of [[Empress Matilda]], [[William, Count of Poitiers|William of Poitiers]], and [[Constance of York]], among others. Because of its royal patronage, the abbey was one of the [[pilgrimage]] centres of [[medieval]] England, and one of its richest and most important religious houses, with possessions as far away as [[Herefordshire]] and [[Scotland]]. The abbey also held over 230 [[relic]]s including the hand of [[James, son of Zebedee|St James]]. A shriveled human hand was found in the ruins during demolition work in [[1786]] and is now in St Peter's RC Church, [[Marlow, Buckinghamshire|Marlow]]. The song [[Sumer is icumen in]], which was first written down in the abbey about [[1240]], is the earliest known four part harmony from Britain. The original document is held in the [[British Library]]. The abbey was largely destroyed in [[1538]] during [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII's]] [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]]. The last abbot, [[Hugh Cook Faringdon]], was subsequently tried and convicted of [[high treason]] and [[hanged, drawn and quartered]] in front of the Abbey Church. After this, the buildings of the abbey were extensively robbed, with lead, glass and facing stones removed for reuse elsewhere.<ref name="rarwa">*{{cite book | author=The staff of the Trust for Wessex Archeology and Reading Museum and Art Gallery | title=Reading Abbey Rediscovered, a summary of the Abbey's history and recent archaeological excavations | publisher=Trust for Wessex Archeology | year=1983 | id=No ISBN known}}</ref> [[St James' Church, Reading|St James' Roman Catholic Church]] was built on a portion of the site of the abbey between [[1837]] and [[1840]]. Its founder was James Whebble, who owned land in the area at that time. [[Reading (HM Prison)|Reading Gaol]] was built in [[1844]] on the eastern portion of the abbey site, replacing a small county Gaol on the same site. James Whebble sold the rest of his portion of the abbey site to Reading Corporation to create the [[Forbury Gardens]], which were opened in [[1861]].<ref name=stjames>{{cite web | url = http://www.jameswilliam-reading.org.uk/documents/StJamesChurch-avisitorsguide2007.pdf | title = St James Church - A guide for Visitors | publisher = St James Church | accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref><ref name=hmpreading>{{cite web | url = http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/prisoninformation/locateaprison/prison.asp?id=625,15,2,15,625,0 | title = HM Prison Service - Reading | publisher = [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom Ministry of Justice]] | date = 2004 | accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref><ref name=rbcfg>{{cite web | title = Forbury Gardens | publisher = Reading Borough Council | url = http://www.reading.gov.uk/leisureandculture/parksandopenspaces/fulllistofparksandopenspaces/General.asp?id=SX9452-A77F90A5 | date = 2000-2007 | accessdate = 2007-10-24}}</ref> ==Remains== The inner rubble cores of the walls of the major buildings of the abbey still stand, and in recent years have been conserved and stabilised. They are Grade I [[listed building|listed]]. These are now freely accessible to the public as part of the [[Forbury Gardens]], a town centre park. Other parts of the former abbey are now buried below [[Reading (HM Prison)|Reading Gaol]]. The inner gateway of the abbey survives intact, though heavily 'restored' in the Victorian era, and now stands adjoining the Reading [[crown court]] and a large commercial office building, overlooking Forbury Gardens. Similarly the abbey's [[hospitium]] dormitory survives, and after various uses has now been incorporated into a recent office development. The abbey school, which was founded in [[1125]], survives as a state [[grammar school]] called [[Reading School]], albeit in different buildings on a different site. Some remains of the former [[Abbey Mill, Reading|Abbey Mill]] still remain alongside the [[Holy Brook]] at the south of the abbey site. The grave of Henry I is marked by a plaque near its original location but no other graves are marked. Plaques have also now been placed on the walls of the chapter house to cite certain events there. In 1995, the ruined South Transept was used as the setting for the first Abbey Ruins Open Air Shakespeare production by [[MDM Productions]] and [[Progress Theatre]] in partnership with Reading Borough Council. In 1996, the outdoor production moved to the ruined chapter house and since 1999 has been staged by Progress Theatre in partnership with Reading Borough Council. This annual event expanded to the ''Reading Abbey Ruins Open Air Festival'' in 2007.<ref name=arfest>{{cite web | url = http://www.abbeyruins.com/history.html | title = Reading Abbey Ruins Open Air Festival: History | publisher = Progress Theatre| accessdate = 2008-7-14}}</ref> ==References== <references /> ==External links== * [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12673a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Reading Abbey] * [http://www.berksarch.co.uk/fora/ Friends of Reading Abbey] * [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/churches/reading_abbey.html Royal Berkshire History: Reading Abbey] * [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/kids/reading_abbey.html RBH for Kids: Reading Abbey] * [http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/abbey.htm Reading Museum Service: Reading Abbey] {{coor title dms|51|27|22.85|N|0|57|54.31|W|type:landmark}} [[Category:Cluniac monasteries in England]] [[Category:Benedictine monasteries in England]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Reading, Berkshire|Abbey]] [[Category:Reading, Berkshire|Abbey]] [[Category:Monasteries in Berkshire]] [[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Berkshire]] [[Category:Grade I listed monasteries]] [[Category:History of Berkshire]] [[Category:Ruins in England]] [[Category:Visitor attractions in Berkshire]] [[Category:1121 establishments]] [[Category:Religious organizations established in the 12th century]] [[Category:1538 disestablishments]] [[no:Reading Abbey]]