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Name: St Laurence Church, Reading, Berkshire
HER Number: RD15564
Record Type: Monument

Grid Reference: SU 717 735
Administrative Area/Parish:Reading, Reading, Berkshire
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Summary

St Laurence Church was founded during the 12th century as the parish church for the people of east Reading.

Monument Type(s):

  • CHURCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1499 AD)

Description

The Church of St Laurence stands immediately beside the west gate to the Abbey. The church was founded during the 12th century as the parish church for the people of east Reading. It is first documented (as a Chapel) in the early 12th century. The church was enlarged and extensively rebuilt in 1196 to cater for the needs of St John's Hospital which butted on to the north of the church. The north chapel and aisle were added in the 13th century. The west tower was added in the 15th century. The arcade known as Blagrave's Piazza was built on the side of the church in 1622 (removed 1868). The church was restored in the mid 1800's <2>. There is a plan of the church in VCH III <2>. Of note within the church is a special pew for the mayor and a monument of Sir John Blagrave, the mathematician. It also houses the font in which Archbishop William Laud was baptised <8>.

The church was damaged on 10th February 1943 when a German Dornier 217 plane dropped a bomb next to the church. This was one of a series of bombs dropped on the town that day <9>


<1> Pevsner N, 1966, The Buildings of England - Berkshire, Pages 199-200 (Bibliographic reference). SRD7728.


<2> 1923, Victoria County History Berkshire, Pages 370-374, illustration (Bibliographic reference). SWK6192.


<3> Hurry, J B, 1901, Reading Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD6886.


<4> Kemp B R, 1968, Reading Abbey: An Introduction to the History of the Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD6872.


<6> Cram, Leslie, 1988, Reading Abbey (Bibliographic reference). SRD12631.


<7> Scott Wilson, 2001, Forbury Gardens and Abbey Ruins, Reading - Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent Application, Page 10 (Unpublished document). SRM14298.


<8> The Conservation Studio, 2007, Market Place/London Street Conservation Area Appraisal, Page 6 (Unpublished document). SRM14469.


<9> Reading Standard, 12/2/1943, "Hit-and-Run" Raid on Town - Departmental Store and Offices Damaged (Newspaper article). SRM14615.

Sources

<1>Pevsner N. 1966. The Buildings of England - Berkshire. Pages 199-200. [Bibliographic reference / SRD7728]
<2>1923. Victoria County History Berkshire. Vol III. Pages 370-374, illustration. [Bibliographic reference / SWK6192]
<3>Hurry, J B. 1901. Reading Abbey. [Bibliographic reference / SRD6886]
<4>Kemp B R. 1968. Reading Abbey: An Introduction to the History of the Abbey. [Bibliographic reference / SRD6872]
<6>Cram, Leslie. 1988. Reading Abbey. [Bibliographic reference / SRD12631]
<7>Scott Wilson. 2001. Forbury Gardens and Abbey Ruins, Reading - Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent Application. Page 10. [Unpublished document / SRM14298]
<8>The Conservation Studio. 2007. Market Place/London Street Conservation Area Appraisal. Page 6. [Unpublished document / SRM14469]
<9>Reading Standard. 12/2/1943. "Hit-and-Run" Raid on Town - Departmental Store and Offices Damaged. [Newspaper article / SRM14615]

Designations

  • Listed Building (I) 1113532: CHURCH OF ST LAURENCE ST LAURENCE'S CHURCH AND CHURCHYARD

Associated Events:

ERM1397Market Place/London Street Conservation Area Appraisal

Associated Monuments

MRD1374Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)
MRD1374Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)
MRD15563Reading Abbey - Hospitium (Monument)
MRD1374Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)
MRD1374Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument)

Associated Finds:

  • None