The Abbey Gateway - 2005-2010

Situated overlooking Forbury Gardens the Abbey Gateway was originally the Inner Gateway of Reading Abbey that led from the public open space of the Forbury into the monks' private precincts. It was used as a schoolroom by Reading Ladies' Boarding School in the late 1700s and Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra went to school there in 1785-86. The Gateway partially collapsed in 1861 and was rebuilt by architect Gilbert Scott in Victorian medieval style. Scott reincorporated medieval features from the 12th to 14th centuries. It is a Grade I Listed Building.

The Abbey Gateway has been home to a range of community activities, from film clubs and art groups to church services and most recently as a centre for steel pan music.

Forbury Gardens view of Abbey Gateway