Reading Case Study

Question 1

Where is Reading Located?

Answer 1

-South West of England
-30 minute train journey from London
-Along river Thames
-In Berkshire
-Largest Town in the UK
-RG postcode

Question 2

What significance does King henry 1 have with reading?

Answer 2

King Henry 1, the son of William the conqueror funded a large monestary in which he intended to be buried upon is death.

-He was buried at abbey church in 1136 but it wasn’t completed till 1164

Question 3

When did Suttons open business?

Answer 3

-In 1837, Suttons began life as a business when john Sutton and his son began business, where they took pride in producing high quality seeds which were exported all over the world
-They began supplying royal farms and gardens and their reading headquarters were named ‘The royal seed establishment’

Question 4

When did Simmonds brewery open?

Answer 4

-William Blackwell Simonds established a brewery in broad street in 1785 and the brewery steadily grew.

-In 1813 the firm began supplying beer to the royal military’s college

Question 5

What happened to the ‘3 B’s ‘ in the late 1900’s?

Answer 5

-In 1973 production of Simmonds beer was moved to a new brewery on the edge of town, next to the M4
-In 1974, Suttons seeds oved to Torquay due to lack of part time labour in reading
-In 1978, the Huntley and Palmers site was demolished

Question 6

What is Reading like today?

Answer 6

-Reading university employs many people and draws a substantial student population
-Town is now largely dependent on office workers, computers and shopping
-It has somewhat returned to what it used to be: A market place for the surrounding area

Question 7

What is Reading population?

Answer 7

175,000

Question 8

What are Reading endogenous factors?

Answer 8

-In a valley and on the river
-Reading abbey which was founded in 1121
-Industrial heritage of beers, bulbs and biscuits

Question 9

What are Readings Exogenous factors?

Answer 9

-GWR and M4 allows flows of labour and products
-Tech industry attracts workers (Used to be 3 b’s)
-Uni of Reading brings a young population and over 160 nationalities
-Reading festival

Question 10

When and what were the impacts of Reading abbeys dissolution?

Answer 10

-Occurred in 1550
-Heavily disrupted economic life as it was a major centre for trade

Question 11

How is Reading represented today?

Answer 11

-Banksy mural on the prison was a campaign to turn the prison into an art centre, and payed respects to oscar wildes poetry
-Cemetery junction film is based in Reading
-Reading central club mural celebrates black peoples struggles and resilience to oppressions
listed as an asset of community value

Question 12

How has Reading been regenerated?

Answer 12

-Station hill has provided new office space, new shops and revitalized nearby areas with new public spaces and mixed use redevelopment

-First 3 tenants were PWC, Pepsico and Newflex

-6300 new jobs

-Elizabeth line improves transport

-Shenfield studios has 18 sound stages

Question 13

What is Reading average weekly wage?

Answer 13

£802-£951
Average worker in Reading earns yearly wage in Burnley in 8 months

Question 14

What companies can be found in Reading?

Answer 14

-Microsoft
-Oracle
-Verizon
-P&G
-Virgin Media