Description
The Façade c.1900
Reading Railway Station has a long and fascinating history and it plays an important role in both the city’s development and the history of the GWR infrastructure. A Grade II Listed Building it retains many of the station’s historical Victorian architecture.
Early Beginnings
- The station originally opened in 1840 as the terminus of the Great Western Railway (GWR) as featured on the clock. At that time, the railway system was expanding rapidly across Britain, and Reading became an important hub in the network, connecting London to the west.
- Reading Station initially consisted of just a simple building, but as railway traffic increased, so did the need for improvements.
The Victorian Era
- In the 1850s, there were major upgrades to the station, including the addition of a new station building and platform improvements. The iconic Maidenhead Bridge was also constructed during this period, which helped with the growing number of trains entering and leaving the station.
- Maidenhead Bridge c.1870
- By the late 1800s, Reading became an increasingly important railway junction, connecting lines from the South West, South Wales, and London.
20th Century Developments
- In the 1930s, further renovations took place, including the addition of more modern facilities, but the station also suffered significant damage during World War II due to bombings.
- After the war, the station was gradually rebuilt, and services expanded.
