Hidden Britain AtlasOpen the map
All places › Castles & abbeys
Castle or abbey

Reading Abbey

Reading, Berkshire

Henry I's royal abbey, whose last abbot was hanged at its gates.

Henry I founded Reading Abbey in 1121, and he was buried here in 1136. It became one of the richest abbeys in England and once held a relic said to be the hand of St James.

Read the full story, see it on the map, get directions and find what else is nearby in the free Hidden Britain Atlas map.

Open Reading Abbey on the mapReport a sighting here
When
Founded 1121, closed 1539
Where
51.4560, -0.9650
Group
Castles & abbeys

Visiting

The ruins are free to visit beside Forbury Gardens.

Nearby mysteries