74:
480:
53:
344:
31:
437:
559:
600:
247:
60:
81:
491:
awarded
Reading Borough Council £2.13 million to restore the historic features of the Forbury Gardens and improve safety and access for visitors. Work in the gardens included the restoration of the Maiwand Lion, the bandstand, water feature and the garden's walls, fencing and gateways. A new Keeper's
379:
shells, manure and other refuse'. In 1860, this section of the
Forbury was purchased by the town for £6010 from Colonel Blagrave. It was decided that fairs should no longer be held there, but the emphasis remained on recreational use rather than botanical display, with the area grassed except for the
599:
542:. After the attack, the gardens were closed to the public for three weeks to facilitate the police investigation. Following the reopening, flowers, originally laid by members of the public in various locations around the town, were moved to surround the garden's bandstand.
592:
Reading
Borough Council organises summer concerts in the bandstand on Sunday afternoons during July and August. The gardens are also used for various civic and community events, including the Reading Town Meal, the Reading Waterfest and a revived Reading Cheese Fair.
366:
1200, of which £400 was donated by the previous owner, a Mr Wheble. The resulting gardens were planned with a 'botanical character', a fountain and a summer house, and became known as the
Pleasure Gardens. Work started in 1855 and the Pleasure Gardens opened on
265:, or 'borough in front', an area of open land which provided a meeting place between the Abbey and the town. The Forbury in Reading was part of the outer court of the Abbey, and provided a market place as well as a meeting place.
545:
In 2023, the garden's bandstand underwent a significant refurbishment, with the structure being conserved and repainted in the original colours of white and green and the previously grassed slopes around the podium replaced with
1248:
288:
in front of the Abbey Church. After this, the buildings of the abbey were extensively looted, with lead, glass and facing stones removed for reuse elsewhere, and the focus of the town moved away from the
Forbury.
657:
323:, the Forbury was used for military drills and parades, in addition to its well-established use for fairs and circuses. Three annual fairs were generally held on the Forbury, but the most significant was the
609:
Panorama of
Forbury Gardens from the top of Forbury Hill, looking to the west. On the left is the refreshment kiosk, in centre is the bandstand. The Maiwand Lion statue is obscured by the tree just right of
208:
374:
The success of the
Pleasure Gardens contrasted with the situation in the western part of the Forbury, which was still used for fairs. After one fair, the area was described as being covered 'with heaps of
492:
Lodge was also constructed, including a refreshment kiosk, public toilets and facilities for a resident gardener. A grand re-opening event took place on 14 May 2005 to mark the completion of the project.
1129:
383:
The common ownership notwithstanding, the two halves of the
Forbury remained very different in character, and separated by a wall. However in 1869 the town purchased 12 acres (4.9 ha) of
581:
The
Forbury Hill is now accessible by two winding footpaths (wheelchair-accessible) that lead to an area that is elevated about 3 metres (9.8 ft) above the surrounding gardens. A single
570:, the Forbury Hill, and the Rustic Fountain. Facilities include a refreshment kiosk and public toilets. Closed-circuit cameras monitor the whole Gardens area, in a bid to deter drug use and
550:. The cobbled structure incorporates a memorial to the victims of the 2020 attack, which was unveiled during a memorial service on 20 June 2023, marking the third anniversary of the attack.
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tree stands in the middle, and around the outer edge of the top of the hill are wooden seats. A short tunnel in the south-east corner of the gardens provides traffic free access to the
1076:
1288:
391:, as a recreation ground. This paved the way for the incorporation, in 1873, of the western part of the Forbury into the gardens, which then became known as Forbury Gardens.
1041:
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garrison built defences that further damaged the remains of the Abbey, and
Forbury Hill was used as a gun emplacement. The origins of Forbury Hill are uncertain, but
261:, and for the next four centuries it dominated the town, becoming one of the most influential establishments in England. Like other such monasteries, Reading had a
1377:
464:
1320:
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that commemorates the dead of Reading and Berkshire in the First World War, was erected in 1932 outside the Victoria Gates of the gardens. It is to a design by
1133:
1270:
1382:
359:. However the whole of the Forbury was in private ownership, and disputes were common as to the common rights of the town and the rights of the school.
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have shown that it cannot be earlier than the 13th century, and was most likely created during the Civil War using rubble from the abbey ruins.
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134:
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statue was erected in 1886 to commemorate the loss of 286 soldiers (though the exact number varies by account) from the 66th
986:
798:
52:
456:. It lies between the Maiwand Lion and the Victoria Gate, and has grown to become an attractive, broadly spreading tree.
351:
By the first years of the 19th century, the western part of the Forbury was in use as a playground or sports ground for
1324:
871:
846:
362:
In 1854, Forbury Hill and the eastern section of the present gardens were sold to Reading Corporation at the cost of
1274:
1155:
751:
273:
216:
1372:
687:
127:
285:
949:
1069:"Trooper Potts: Reading's only Victoria Cross winner commemorated with statue outside Forbury Gardens"
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in October 1915 after endangering his own life to drag a wounded comrade from the battlefield at the
384:
566:
Besides the landscaping and planting of the gardens, the principal features are the Bandstand, the
399:
754:
Reading Abbey Rediscovered: a summary of the Abbey's history and recent archaeological excavations
504:
411:
212:
169:
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building. In the same year, the Reading International Brigade Memorial was relocated from the
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1856. A tunnel was built on the eastern side in 1859 to link the gardens and the Abbey ruins.
73:
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The Verdun Oak was planted in July 1919 to commemorate the restoration of peace after the
414:
and it was unveiled in December 1886. It is sometimes known locally as the Forbury Lion.
8:
1012:
695:
508:
277:
230:
752:
The staff of the Trust for Wessex Archeology and Reading Museum and Art Gallery (1983).
331:, although cattle, horses and hops were also sold, and it served as the principal local
1008:
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112:
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in the United Kingdom which are grown from acorns and other seeds collected from the
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On 20 June 2020, three people were killed and three others seriously injured in
500:
418:
352:
343:
120:
658:"Man arrested following incident of stabbing – Reading | Thames Valley Police"
347:
The Rustic Fountain dates from 1856 and the inauguration of the first gardens.
1366:
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368:
254:
196:, which was in front of the Abbey Church. The site was formerly known as the
193:
149:
136:
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388:
281:
36:
30:
483:
Flowers on the bandstand in memory of the three victims of the 2020 attack
547:
449:
407:
332:
305:
204:. Fairs were held on the site three times a year until the 19th century.
181:
102:
578:
for being welcoming, safe, well maintained and involving the community.
496:
436:
417:
The Victoria Gates at the south west corner of the gardens commemorate
217:
a terrorist attack in which three people were killed and others injured
429:
A grey stone cross on a small mound was erected in 1909, in memory of
200:, and one of the roads flanking the current gardens is still known as
487:
In 2004-5, the gardens underwent a one-year restoration project. The
189:
116:
558:
515:
to the east side of the gardens, and rededicated. This sculpture by
460:
301:
467:, and still forms the centre-piece for Reading's commemoration of
226:
1130:"Forbury Gardens Restoration Project – Project Update June 2004"
440:
The Reading Cenotaph, with the Victoria Gates and gardens behind
433:, on the north-west corner of the footings of the Abbey Church.
376:
246:
1100:"Spanish Civil War memorial is rededicated in Forbury Gardens"
975:"World War One Battle of Verdun oak and chestnut trees traced"
296:, being occupied at different times by both sides. During the
1211:"Forbury Gardens victims' memorial unveiled three years on"
1177:"Reading stabbings: Forbury Gardens reopens to the public"
80:
1352:
1218:
1184:
982:
507:. The statue is just outside the garden wall, facing the
410:
on 27 July 1880. The sculptor of this 31-foot statue was
250:
Forbury Hill, used as a gun emplacement in the civil war
1273:. Reading Borough Council. 18 July 2007. Archived from
209:
English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
1321:"Forbury Gardens to be Filled With the Sound of Music"
315:
As a result of the concerns sparked in England by the
327:, held in September. This fair became known as the
1364:
1156:"Stanford, Eric – Collections – Art Collections"
495:In 2015, a statue was unveiled to the memory of
229:, was named after the gardens by early resident
192:. The park is on the site of the outer court of
1271:"Town Centre Gardens Retains Green Flag Status"
268:The abbey was largely destroyed in 1538 during
1378:Grade II listed parks and gardens in Berkshire
534:in the gardens. The incident was treated as a
355:, which at this time was housed in the former
380:outside walks and a gravelled parade ground.
1383:Parks and open spaces in Reading, Berkshire
538:; its perpetrator was later sentenced to a
805:. University of Reading. 24 October 2017.
652:
650:
207:The gardens are listed as Grade II in the
1323:. Reading Borough Council. Archived from
1294:. Reading Borough Council. Archived from
1132:. Reading Borough Council. Archived from
1044:. Reading Borough Council. Archived from
943:"Maiwand Lion – Forbury Gardens, Reading"
729:. Reading Borough Council. Archived from
523:and preparatory sketches are held by the
387:, the abbey's former water meadow by the
1122:
861:
799:"Forbury Mound – a final mystery solved"
773:"A short history of the Forbury Gardens"
557:
478:
435:
342:
245:
1247:. Reading Borough Council. 3 May 2023.
1245:"Conservation of the Forbury Bandstand"
1036:
1034:
855:
767:
765:
763:
647:
59:
1365:
1281:
1097:
935:
911:
909:
841:. MRM Associates Ltd. pp. 71–93.
832:
830:
828:
826:
824:
721:
719:
717:
664:. Thames Valley Police. Archived from
225:, a suburb of the New Zealand city of
1169:
1110:from the original on 14 February 2017
1079:from the original on 24 December 2016
1042:"Forbury Gardens Restoration Project"
894:from the original on 17 February 2012
836:
1289:"Restoration Proposals Overall Plan"
1066:
1031:
760:
745:
553:
1313:
923:from the original on 24 August 2015
906:
880:
821:
714:
519:is a memorial to those lost in the
90:Location within Reading Town Centre
13:
680:
292:Reading suffered badly during the
14:
1399:
1342:
1251:from the original on 26 July 2023
1225:from the original on 25 July 2023
1191:from the original on 21 July 2023
1019:from the original on 25 July 2023
989:from the original on 26 July 2023
948:. Reading Museums. Archived from
917:"The history of the Maiwand Lion"
866:. Countryside Books. p. 42.
839:The Town of Reading and its Abbey
809:from the original on 26 July 2023
779:from the original on 25 July 2023
688:"William Henry Valpy (1793–1852)"
215:. In 2020, they were the site of
1358:Berkshire History: Reading Abbey
775:. Reading Museum. 21 July 2020.
702:from the original on 20 May 2010
635:from the original on 2 July 2019
598:
79:
72:
58:
51:
29:
1349:Video: History of Reading Abbey
1263:
1237:
1203:
1148:
1091:
1067:Hyde, Nathan (5 October 2015).
1060:
1001:
967:
919:. bbc.co.uk. 2 September 2009.
474:
424:
338:
1388:1856 establishments in England
1009:"Men of Reading and Berkshire"
791:
756:. Trust for Wessex Archeology.
621:
459:The Reading Cenotaph, a stone
274:Dissolution of the Monasteries
241:
1:
629:"The Forbury Garden, Reading"
615:
319:, and throughout the ensuing
280:, was tried and convicted of
727:"History of Forbury Gardens"
574:. The garden has received a
562:Map of Forbury Gardens today
421:'s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
7:
448:. It is one of a number of
286:hanged, drawn and quartered
233:, who was born in Reading.
10:
1404:
1098:Walker, Ed (12 May 2015).
662:www.thamesvalley.police.uk
236:
862:Phillips, Daphne (1980).
188:in the English county of
165:
126:
108:
98:
46:
28:
23:
890:. bbc.co.uk. July 2009.
400:Royal Berkshire Regiment
257:was founded in 1121, by
16:Park in Reading, England
505:Battle of Scimitar Hill
412:George Blackall Simonds
213:Reading Borough Council
170:Reading Borough Council
587:ruins of Reading Abbey
563:
499:, who was awarded the
484:
441:
348:
251:
67:Location in Berkshire
41:behind and to the left
985:. 14 September 2016.
837:Slade, Cecil (2001).
692:The Caversham Project
572:anti-social behaviour
561:
525:University of Reading
497:Trooper Fred Potts VC
489:Heritage Lottery Fund
482:
465:Edward Leslie Gunston
454:battlefield at Verdun
439:
346:
310:University of Reading
308:taken in 2017 by the
249:
211:, and are managed by
1373:Gardens in Berkshire
1327:on 27 September 2011
1136:on 27 September 2011
955:on 28 September 2007
864:The Story of Reading
803:Round Mounds Project
733:on 27 September 2011
631:. Historic England.
357:Hospitium of St John
150:51.45694°N 0.96722°W
1048:on 25 February 2011
1013:Imperial War Museum
696:University of Otago
329:Reading Cheese Fair
278:Hugh Cook Faringdon
231:William Henry Valpy
146: /
39:, with Forbury Hill
888:"The Maiwand Lion"
564:
536:terrorist incident
485:
442:
349:
276:. The last abbot,
252:
155:51.45694; -0.96722
554:The gardens today
521:Spanish Civil War
404:Battle of Maiwand
317:French Revolution
294:English Civil War
175:
174:
1395:
1337:
1336:
1334:
1332:
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1311:
1310:
1308:
1306:
1301:on 7 August 2011
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1241:
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1232:
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1221:. 20 June 2023.
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1187:. 10 July 2020.
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1120:
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1104:getreading.co.uk
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1073:getreading.co.uk
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298:Siege of Reading
166:Operated by
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1277:on 27 May 2011.
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746:
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686:
685:
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671:
669:
668:on 20 June 2020
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613:
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556:
540:whole-life term
532:a mass stabbing
477:
461:memorial column
446:First World War
427:
341:
325:Michaelmas Fair
321:Napoleonic Wars
300:(1642–43), the
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184:in the town of
178:Forbury Gardens
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1329:. Retrieved
1325:the original
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896:. Retrieved
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731:the original
704:. Retrieved
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666:the original
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637:. Retrieved
623:
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568:Maiwand Lion
565:
544:
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513:Civic Centre
494:
486:
475:21st century
458:
450:Verdun trees
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428:
425:20th century
416:
396:Maiwand Lion
393:
389:River Thames
382:
373:
361:
350:
339:19th century
328:
324:
314:
306:core samples
291:
282:high treason
267:
262:
253:
221:
206:
201:
197:
177:
176:
37:Maiwand Lion
18:
1114:13 February
1083:13 February
959:26 November
509:Crown Court
471:each year.
408:Afghanistan
333:hiring fair
242:Early years
202:The Forbury
182:public park
153: /
128:Coordinates
103:Public park
1367:Categories
1331:19 January
1305:20 January
1140:19 January
1052:19 January
737:20 January
706:19 January
616:References
270:Henry VIII
138:51°27′25″N
1161:9 January
190:Berkshire
117:Berkshire
1249:Archived
1223:Archived
1215:BBC News
1189:Archived
1181:BBC News
1108:Archived
1077:Archived
1017:Archived
987:Archived
979:BBC News
921:Archived
892:Archived
807:Archived
777:Archived
700:Archived
633:Archived
302:Royalist
141:0°58′2″W
109:Location
1255:25 July
1229:25 July
1195:21 July
1023:25 July
993:26 July
813:26 July
783:25 July
672:20 June
548:cobbles
431:Henry I
402:at the
263:forbury
259:Henry I
237:History
227:Dunedin
223:Forbury
198:Forbury
186:Reading
113:Reading
927:2 June
898:2 June
870:
845:
639:2 July
610:centre
377:oyster
284:, and
1299:(PDF)
1292:(PDF)
953:(PDF)
946:(PDF)
583:plane
180:is a
1333:2011
1307:2011
1257:2023
1231:2023
1197:2023
1163:2024
1142:2011
1116:2017
1085:2017
1054:2011
1025:2023
995:2023
961:2007
929:2013
900:2013
868:ISBN
843:ISBN
815:2023
785:2023
739:2011
708:2011
674:2020
641:2019
394:The
99:Type
35:The
1353:BBC
1219:BBC
1185:BBC
983:BBC
406:in
272:'s
1369::
1351:,
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121:UK
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364:£
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