Queen Victoria Street, Reading
Encyclopedia
Queen Victoria Street is a pedestrianised thoroughfare
in the English
town of Reading
, Berkshire
. It connects Broad Street
with Friar Street
and Station Road.
hence Reading's railway station
, which had opened in 1840. The road was the work of Councillor J.C. Fidler, a local businessman who was also responsible for the rebuilding of West Street, the construction of the Market Arcade, and the acquisition of Prospect Park
for the town. Queen Victoria Street was nearing completion in 1903, when Councilor Fidler died.
The building of the street involved the demolition of several properties on both Friar Street and Broad Street. These included Laud Place, a block of tenements built in 1813 on the site where William Laud
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
executed for treason
during the Civil War
, was born in 1573.
Thoroughfare
A thoroughfare is a place of transportation intended to connect one location to another. Highways, roads, and trails are examples of thoroughfares used by a variety of general traffic. On land a thoroughfare may refer to anything from a rough trail to multi-lane highway with grade separated...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
town of Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. It connects Broad Street
Broad Street, Reading
Broad Street is a main pedestrianised thoroughfare and the primary high street in the English town of Reading. The street is situated in the town centre, running for approximately , from west to east. The western end of the road lies at the crossroads with Oxford Road, West Street and St Mary's...
with Friar Street
Friar Street, Reading
Friar Street is a thoroughfare in the English town of Reading. It runs parallel to Broad Street, connected by Union Street, Queen Victoria Street and Cross Street...
and Station Road.
History
Queen Victoria Street is relatively new street in the history of Reading, being constructed in the early years of the 20th century to provide a direct route from Broad Street to Station Road andhence Reading's railway station
Reading railway station
Reading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
, which had opened in 1840. The road was the work of Councillor J.C. Fidler, a local businessman who was also responsible for the rebuilding of West Street, the construction of the Market Arcade, and the acquisition of Prospect Park
Prospect Park, Reading
Prospect Park is both a public park and a historic house at Tilehurst in the western suburbs of the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It is at .Prospect Park was originally the site of Dirle's Farm and part of the estate of Calcot Park...
for the town. Queen Victoria Street was nearing completion in 1903, when Councilor Fidler died.
The building of the street involved the demolition of several properties on both Friar Street and Broad Street. These included Laud Place, a block of tenements built in 1813 on the site where William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
executed for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, was born in 1573.