Grade II * Watlington House A hidden gem of a house and garden in the heart of Reading.
Watlington House, 44 Watlington Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4RJ
Watlington House (Grade II*) is Reading’s oldest domestic building with parts dating back to the 1500, though mainly built in 1688 the mid 1700s. Since 1929 run for the benefit of the community. Now a CIO our net income is used to maintain the building and pay running costs and undertake vital repair work. There are many users of the late 1800's Garden Hall / Tin Tabernacle.
During the morning one of our trustees will give a series of short talks about the history of the house. Garden Designer/Trustee Gaila Adair will explain about the restoration of the garden undertaken in 2014-15 & no doubt our Box Moth battle. We will also explain about the repair & improvement works undertaken to the house in recent years and future planned works.
Some of our tenants; Weston & Co Architects, Reserve Forces Employment Association, Berkshire Youth, will open their rooms to enable you to see more of the house and will explain about their activities.
The Mills Archive Trust, a charity situated in Watlington House, will be open from 10am-3:30pm. The Trust is an award-winning (QAVS holders) archive and educational institution that prides itself on connecting the past with the present. All are welcome to drop in and view their exhibition on the history and development of renewable energy. This display will cover centuries of innovation: from milling through to the modern-day wind and water turbines used for electricity generation.
Also see http://www.watlingtonhouse.org.uk/history
Timings & Tours
- Friday 06 September:
- 9:30-16:00
Location & directions
Watlington House, 44 Watlington Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4RJ
- Directions:
- As this house is in the heart of the town you are best to walk / catch the bus (no 17). Pedestrians will be able to enter the front of the house from Watlington Street ( come down off the London Rd just after the Royal Berkshire Hospital). There will be a very limited number of parking places at the front. Alternatively through the double garden gates in South Street, Drivers wishing to park should come via Sidmouth Street to South Street and enter the rear garden gates. There will be a very limited number of parking places. You may best to park in South St, pay parking.
- Contact on day:
- Richard Bennett
- Telephone number:
- +447802763289
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
The house and garden are not routinely open to the public other than at Heritage Open Days. As this is a historic house there is no disabled access to the upper floors of the house. Those with wheelchairs are able to access the house from the front (on Watlington St) and the ground floor rooms only, they will not be able to descend into the garden from the house because of a set of steep brick steps. Access to the garden is a short trail along South Street. There are no disabled toilets. There is limited parking on site, access via South Street. Also pay parking in South Street.
Additional information
There will be brief explanations of the history of the house on the ground floor and in the gardens during the morning. Visitors will then be free to explore and to visit our tenants on the different levels. A virtual tour commissioned for HODs 2020 to support the NHS may be accessed on our FB site www.facebook.com/watlingtonhouse and https://ngs.org.uk/watlington-house-reading-a-garden-for-the-future-with-a-link-to-the-past. It has had 6,200 views to date.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 8
- Est. tour duration:
- 0 hour(s) 15 minute(s)
