Abbey Quarter

Abbey Quarter. The Ruins of Reading Abbey. Today Reading Abbey stands in ruins, but at one time this was one of England's most important religious centres, housed in spectacular and beautiful buildings. Here monks lived a secluded life, following the rules of St Benedict, spending most of their time praying and worshipping., You are standing in the former abbey church. The high altar and the east end of the church were to your left. Looking the other way there would have been an elaborate carved screen. dividing the monks' area of the church from the nave, which was open to worshippers and pilgrims. The archway to your right led to the abbey cloister and was the main entrance for the monks attending the eight daily church services., Reading the walls , The original building was much taller than the remaining walls suggest, and beautifully decorated with carved and painted stone. The floors were covered with red and white tiles. At first glance the ruins appear to be a random jumble of old stones but if you look closely there are clues to the abbey's original appearance., In 1643 King Charles I ordered his army to demolish the Abbey Ruins. They used gunpowder to create a massive explosion. Some of the bits that fell down were so big that almost 400 years later they have never been moved., Timeline , 1121 Henry I founds Reading Abbey , 1164 Henry II attends official opening of Reading Abbey , 1254 Reading receives royal charter from Henry III , 1453 Parliament meets at Reading Abbey , 1539 Henry V closes Reading Abbey, Abbot Hugh is executed , 1548 Abbey church demolition starts , 1560 Elizabeth I grants a new town charter , 1643 Abbey church is severely damaged in Civil War , 1833 People of Reading fundraise to buy Abbey Ruins , 1861 Abbey Gateway is restored by George Gilbert Scott , 1920 Reading Pageant in the Abbey Ruins , 2018 Abbey Ruins re-open after major conservation works