Any Questions? Please try here first
If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.
Name: | St Laurence Church, Reading, Berkshire |
---|
HER Number: | RD15564 |
---|
Record Type: | Monument |
---|
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Scott Wilson, 2001, Forbury Gardens and Abbey Ruins, Reading - Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent Application, Page 10 (Unpublished document).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 The Conservation Studio, 2007, Market Place/London Street Conservation Area Appraisal, Page 6 (Unpublished document).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:
ERM1397 | Market Place/London Street Conservation Area Appraisal |
Associated Monuments
MRD1374 | Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
MRD1374 | Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
MRD15563 | Reading Abbey - Hospitium (Monument) |
MRD1374 | Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
MRD1374 | Reading Abbey, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
Associated Finds:
NoneSearch results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.