With the foundation of Reading Abbey in 1164 there was a shift in economic activity away from St Mary's to the Abbey gates.
The Domesday survey of 1086 records two manors at Reading, one belonging to Battle Abbey and the other to the King. The estate attached to Battle Abbey was recovered by Henry I in the early 12th century and in 1121 the King founded Reading Abbey on newly acquired land <2>. The foundation of the Abbey (SMR 01022.00.000) in 1164 resulted in a shift of economic activity from St Mary's to the gates of the Abbey. By the 14th century, this shift was complete and the layout of the town changed little until the 19th century <1>.
During the medieval period Reading developed rapidly, based on the manufacture of woollen cloth, leather goods and silk weaving. It had a good location in particular being in the proximity of two waterways - the River Thames and the River Kennet <4>.
| MRD11369 | 13th century pottery - 10 Queen Victoria Street, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD11377 | 14th century pottery sherds - 60 Broad Street, Reading (Find Spot) |
| MRD11375 | 14th century pottery sherds - The Vicarage, St Mary's, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD7376 | Bear Wharf, Fobney Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3928 | Broad Street/King Street, Reading (Monument) |
| MRD11366 | Carved bone figure - Fobney Street, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD3924 | Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3937 | Church of St Giles, Southampton Street, Reading, Berkshire (Listed Building) |
| MRD3935 | Church of St Mary, Reading, Berkshire (Listed Building) |
| MRD11372 | Finds from the River Kennet at Reading (Find Spot) |
| MRD3929 | Flint and tile wall at Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3938 | Greyfriars - Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD11381 | Late Norman or early Medieval pot - Wellsteads, Broad Street, Reading (Find Spot) |
| MRD3926 | Market Place, Reading (Monument) |
| MRD11367 | Medieval coin - Great Western Hotel, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD11368 | Medieval features and a find - 72 London Street, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD3962 | Medieval gully at Crane Wharf, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD11365 | Medieval jug - Blagrave Street, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD11370 | Medieval pottery at Wiston Terrace, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD11376 | Medieval sherd at Southampton Street/Mill Street, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD11371 | Medieval sherds - New garage near railway station, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD11378 | Medieval skeleton and finds - Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD3942 | Mills at Mill Lane, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3941 | Minster Mill, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3921 | Minster Street/Gun Street, Reading (Monument) |
| MRD3934 | Motte? at Forbury Hill, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3931 | New Street/Friar Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3957 | Oak and birch revetment at Fobney Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3919 | Old Market/ St Mary's Butts, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3923 | Old Street/Bridge Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD11398 | Pilgrim bottle found at Corn Exchange, Reading, Berkshire (Find Spot) |
| MRD3945 | Road at Duke Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3918 | Saxon mint at Reading (Monument) |
| MRD3944 | St Edmund's Chapel - Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3936 | St Laurence Church, Reading, Berkshire (Listed Building) |
| MRD3943 | St Laurence's School, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD6376 | Undated wall at Jacksons Corner, Reading (Monument) |
| MRD3959 | Waterfront - Bridge Street (West) Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3947 | Waterfronts - Bridge Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |
| MRD3930 | Well in Cross Street, Reading, Berkshire (Monument) |