Forbury Gardens is an attractive formal garden in the middle of Reading, between the ruins of the abbey and St Laurence's churchyard. There is a wall round it, so you need to find one of the entrances. There are probably bits of Reading Abbey in the wall (there usually is, in Reading...)

Lots of brightly coloured flowers. You can see in the second photo the famous Forbury Lion.

The Forbury Lion's official name is the Maiwand Lion, named after the Battle of Maiwand. It was unveiled in December 1886 to commemorate the deaths of 329 men from the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot during the campaign in the Second Anglo-Afghan War in Afghanistan between 1878 and 1880. So it is one of several war memorials in Forbury Gardens. It certainly dominates the place!

They are proud of Forbury Hill, but... well, here it is! It's supposed to have been used during the English Civil War, during the Seige of Reading. It cannot be said to dominate the place. It's in the middle of Forbury Gradens, on the north side. Even has some steps if you find the climb too much...

The bandstand, and the fountain. You can see St James at the back, a Roman Catholic church, next to the Abbey ruins.

Another war memorial, the Burma Star memorial - a rose garden.

Yet another, Memorial to the Reading members of the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War. In Forbury gardens, on the Abbey side.

This memorial is outside Forbury Gardens, near the Abbey gateway. It is in honour of Trooper Potts, "the hero with a shovel". He used the shovel to drag an injured soldier to safety and treatment. He got the Victoria Cross for this.

Entrance to Reading Abbey ruins

The ruined Reading Abbey lies between Forbury Gardens and Reading Gaol. There is also an entrace from Forbury Gardens.

This is listed II*, and the listing says: "Mid C19 archway incorporating numerous fragments from the C12 Abbey."

Return to Reading index

© Jo Edkins 2024