THURSDAY 7th - SUNDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2017 EXPLORING READING 13 Father Willis Organ Demonstrations 22 RISC Edible Roof Garden 30 Terry’s Reading Walkabouts Free talk and demonstration of the historic organ by members Small edible roof forest garden developed to demonstrate Visiting, recently moved here or lived here all your life, Terry’s of the Berkshire Organists’ Association, plus a chance to play sustainability and our dependence on plants. Demonstrations light-hearted easy walking guided tours will explain about the instrument. 1 hour sessions suitable for all ages. of renewable energy, water harvesting and irrigation systems. Reading’s beginning, rivers and canals, Abbey and industrial Regular tours of the garden offered. Reading Museum, Town Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH history, and much more. Suitable for adults & children over 5, 35-39 London Street, Reading, RG1 4PS Saturday 11:00 & 12:00 covers 2 miles. A free quiz is available to children. Saturday & Sunday 12:00 - 16:00 readingmuseum.org.uk Meet Terry at Reading Railway Station, Station Hill, risc.org.uk Reading, RG1 1LZ From the Maiwand Lion to the After Dark Club. Thursday 10:00 14 23 Sonning: Architectural & Historical Walks “A walk on the dark side” Tours of the historical and once Episcopal riverside village to Booking required: 07505 351517/[email protected] A Reading Civic Society walk led by lecturer and local historian include many of its historic buildings. Opportunity to see the www.facebook.com/pg/terrysreadingwalkabouts Margaret Simons. The Maiwand Lion, Abbey ruins, Prison, baroque Rich Memorial and hear about buildings associated St Laurence’s Church, Town Hall, Soane Memorial and the former with the Rich and Palmer families. The Church of the Most Holy Trinity Corn Exchange to Reading’s best Georgian Street – London Street. St Andrew’s Churchyard, High Street, Sonning, Reading, RG4 6UP 31 Many unusual and beautiful furnishings including the famous Meet at The Maiwand Lion – Forbury Gardens Thursday, Friday, Sunday 14:00. Max 20 per tour. Meet inside the churchyard by Bull Inn. Pugin Screen and an altar set by Martin Travers from Nashdom Sunday 10:30 - 12:00. Max 18 people. Booking required: 0118 969 2132 /[email protected] Abbey plus a large collection of old elaborate vestments on Voluntary donations of £3 per head. Students free. display along with altarplate and a crypt/catacombs. sonning.org.uk Booking required: eventbrite.co.uk Oxford Road, opp. Russell Street, Reading 24 St James’s Church Thursday/Friday 12:00 - 15:00 (Tour 1330), 15 Green Park Wind Turbine Tour Pugin’s very first church design (1837) was built in the Saturday 11:00 - 15:00 (Tour 13:30), Sunday 11:30 - 12:30 Visit this landmark site, learn all about the turbine, what it is, what Norman-Romanesque style and among the first Catholic churches to be built in England after the Reformation. It is it does and how it works. This free tour is for young and old alike. sited over the ruins of Reading Abbey. There will be guides 32 The MERL Behind the Scenes Tour Reading, RG2 6GP on hand to answer questions about the church and two An exclusive opportunity to see and learn more about the Saturday & Sunday 10:00 illustrated talks (2pm Friday – Matilda, daughter of Henry I) grade listed building, designed by the Victorian architect (2pm Saturday – Reading Abbey and its monks). Booking required: 07792 158530/[email protected] Alfred Waterhouse and its collections. St. James Church, Forbury Road, Reading, RG1 3FD nrgreduced.com 6 Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX EXPLORING READING Friday 11:00 - 16:00 (talk 14:00), Saturday 11:00 - 16:00 Thursday/Friday: Tour 10:30 - 12:00 – behind the scenes in (talk 14:00), Sunday 12:30 - 16:00 th th 16 Greyfriars Church University archives store THURSDAY 7 – SUNDAY 10 jameswilliam-reading.org.uk Built in 1311, the main elements survive to this day as the most Sunday: Tour 10:30 - 12:00 – the re-development of the SEPTEMBER 2017 complete example of Franciscan architecture in Britain. The 25 St Laurence Church museum and St Andrew’s Hall church has also been a poor hospital, workhouse and gaol until in Originally built in 1121 outside the Abbey Gate, past Booking required: https://themerl-hod2017.eventbrite.co.uk 1863, it was restored as a church and has been in use ever since. congregants include Jane Austen and Queen Elizabeth I. Guided tour outlining its history and its current usage. A free Ancient features included high-beamed roofs, magnificent 33 The Rising Sun Arts Centre leaflet is also available for self-guiding. arches and ancient monuments. The church, which is now A Grade II listed building originally designed and built by 64 Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1EH solely committed to young people, has been uniquely and architect Alfred Waterhouse as a Temperance House. It is now creatively re-ordered. Friday 12:00 - 16:00, Saturday 10:30 - 15:30, Sunday 14.00 - 16.00 used as a vibrant and unique art centre with a passion for greyfriars.org.uk Town Hall Square (off Blagrave Street), Reading, RG1 1DA community and heritage. Cafe with homemade refreshments. Saturday 10:00 - 15:00 26-30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST 17 Historic Katesgrove Industries Tour stlreading.org Saturday 12:00 - 16:00 A Whitley Pump tour takes in the sites of some of 19th and 20th 26 St Mary the Virgin Church, Aldermaston risingsunartscentre.org century Reading industries and their employees. Your guide will The church dates back to about 1150 and is a surprise for all set the scene for a trip back in time. 34 The Sacred Heart of Jesus church who enter for the first time – “unarguably one of the most Meet RISC, London Street, Reading important painted churches in England.” Project St Mary’s is The Catholic church was originally known as the Anglican Friday 11:00. Ends 13:00. Max 12. renovating it for the use and enjoyment of future generations. Church of St John the Evangelist. The church was re-built between 1872-1874 in a French Gothic style. The stained- Booking required: eventbrite.co.uk Church Road, Aldermaston, RG7 4HR Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 (cream teas 14:00 - 16:00) glass windows are by A. L. Moore and also by Clayton and Bell. It is a grade II listed building. 18 Making Lace – Museum of English Rural Life awb.org.uk/st-mary-s-church-aldermaston.htm 61 Watlington Street, Reading, RG1 4RQ Celebrating National Lace-making Day, learn more about MERL’s lace-making collections, hear from experts and enjoy 27 St Peter’s Church Saturday/Sunday: 14:00 - 17:00 (music & play at 15:00 Sunday) demonstrations from the North Downs Lace-makers. Explore the parish church which dates back to 1162, with parafiawreading.net Museum of English Rural Life, 6 Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX additions in the later medieval period. Interesting variety Saturday 10:00 - 15:00 of stained glass by Warrington, Clayton & Bell, Powell and 35 Trooper Potts VC & Berkshire Yeomanry reading.ac.uk/themerl Comper. A guide will be on hand to provide information about Memorials the history of the church and the parish. The 2015 life size sculpture in bronze, of two wounded soldiers 19 Malmaison Hotel The Warren, Caversham, Reading, RG4 7AQ in Gallipoli, depicts the events during which Trooper Potts Join artists from local arts charity, jelly, to create a printed Saturday 10:00 - 18:00 rescued Trooper Andrews from certain death in 1915 and became postcard from the world’s oldest surviving railway hotel. the only man from Reading to be awarded the VC. A chidlren’s Completed in 1844 by Brunel, the hotel still celebrates its St Peter’s Conservation Area quiz sheet will be available. Members of the Memorial Trust will railway heritage. Free family drop-in activity. All ages welcome. 28 be on site to explain the memorial and answer questions. Why not book a delicious Heritage afternoon tea buffet for Architectural Tour only £14 per person? Join architectural historian Megan Aldrich for the walk. Opposite the Forbury Hotel, 26 The Forbury, Reading, RG1 3EJ 18-20 Station Road, Reading, RG1 1JX Guided tours of the beautiful riverside Caversham Court Friday 10:00 - 12:00, Saturday 14:00 - 16:00 Gardens and the 17th century summer house also available Saturday 12:00 - 17:00 pottsvctrust.org on Saturday (including sensory tours for visually or hearing Drop-in activity is free and no need to pre-book. impaired people). Charity-run Tea Kiosk open on site. Watlington House and Gardens Please pre-book for the Heritage Afternoon Tea: Church Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 7AD 36 0118 956 2328 / [email protected] Explore a wonderful garden oasis or view some of the rooms Saturday 11:00 and 14:30 for Conservation Area tours. jelly.org.uk within the house dating back to 1688. Meet north side of Caversham Bridge. 44 Watlington Street, Reading, RG1 4RJ Reading Crown Court Open Day Garden Tours Saturday 11:00 - 16:00 20 Friday & Saurday 09:00 - 17:00 See behind the scenes and learn more about the criminal justice Conservation Area tours must be pre-booked. watlingtonhouse.org.uk system. Suitable for both adults and children. Sit as a juror in a Booking required: eventbrite.co.uk mock trial, understand how a judge decides on a sentence, tour the court cells, and find out more about the people and the work fccg.org.uk done at a crown court. The Old Shire Hall, The Forbury, Reading, RG1 3EH 29 SuperHome Open Day Saturday 10:00 - 14:00 A refurbished Victorian 1873 semi-detached property has been Getting Around fully insulated, fitted a new condensing boiler and wood stove, Reading Synagogue solar panels, low energy appliances and water saving devices.