17 and 18 King Street

Summary

Mid- to late-C18 shophouse, extended and remodelled during the C19 and later C20.

History

Modest rural settlements likely existed in the area as far back as the first century. By the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066, Reading had become a town of notable size. After Reading Abbey was founded in 1121, the town grew substantially, spurred by cloth production, the establishment of the new Market Place, and what would today be known as London Street, an extension to the High Street that facilitated trade to and from London. By 1525, the town’s thriving cloth industry led Reading to become the largest town in Berkshire. In 1542, Henry VIII’s royal charter made Reading a borough. John Speed’s map shows that by 1611 King Street joined London Street on the east to Broad Street on the West. A small collection of buildings can also be seen flanking the south side of the new market square in front of the Abbey, suggesting that a modest block of buildings has always existed between King Street and the new Market Place. Following significant upheaval during the Civil War, the town flourished during C18 and C19. The town saw numerous advances in infrastructure, such as the introduction of railway companies, the navigability of the River Kennet, and the growth of the brewing industry.

17-18 King Street was constructed during the latter half of the C18. The building had a mix of commercial functions during the C19, including a surgeon’s office, an auctioneer’s office, a hosier, and an ironmonger. In 1873, it was occupied by the Reading Observer. The building was originally backed by a long garden that extended as far south as Thorn Lane, which was infilled by buildings in the mid-C20. Rear (south) ancillary ranges were added in the C19 and mid-C20. The historic roof pitch of the main building looks to have been replaced with a flat roof later in the C20. The ground-floor shop unit was remodelled in the later C20 with a canted glass shopfront. The building is currently (2023) in use as an estate agency with private accommodation above.

Details

Mid- to late-C18 shophouse, extended and remodelled during the C19 and later C20.

MATERIALS: the front, north elevation is stucco rendered with a modern glazed shopfront. The rear range is exposed brick.

PLAN: the building comprises two volumes. The principal, front volume is of four storeys, stepping down to the rear, three-storey range to the south.

EXTERIOR: excluding the modern shopfront, the street-facing elevation of 17-18 King Street is a full-height canted bay. At its apex, the building features a timber modillion cornice surmounted by a stucco parapet. The first, second and third floors each contain three, six-over-six glazed timber sash windows within moulded timber frames, divided by moulded mullions. Each floor is marked by a narrow timber course. The late-C20 shopfront consists of a full-height, canted shop window with a recessed entrance containing a glazed door with rectangular overlight and a grey tiled floor. Above is a deep, timber fascia board. The building’s original roof has been replaced with a flat roof in connection with the reconstruction of the rear (southern) range. The rear range steps down to three storeys and has a flat roof.

INTERIOR: the building is understood to contain a contemporary four-flight staircase between the first and second floors, alongside turned timber balusters and the retention of one shaped newel. There is understood to be a modest amount of original panelling and a fireplace on the first floor, alongside a first-floor stair landing to the rear.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

38983

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Bradley, S, Tyack, G, The Buildings of England: Berkshire, (2010), p466, p469.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Print the official list entry