Memorial Type:

Information Board

Does the monument still exist?

Yes

Installation Date:

June 2018

Inscription:

You've found the Abbey Ruins

Civil War destruction
The massive piece of the abbey church walls pictured right has been lying here since the English Civil War in the 1640s. During the Siege of Reading in 1643, both the Royalist and Parliamentary armies used the Abbey Ruins as part of their defences as they fought for control over Reading. King Charles ordered the demolition of the abbey to make it harder for the Parliamentary army to retake and hold the town, and the walls were destroyed with gunpowder.

Allegiance:

Neutral

Condition:

Very Good

Condition Description:

Visited in January 2024