A LECTURE looking at the history of Reading’s historic abbey site attracted a crowd of people earlier this month.
Professor James Clark visited St James Church in The Forbury to discussion the impact that the dissolution had on the town.
Organised by Friends of Reading Abbey, it explored what is known of the final months of Reading’s monks and friars, the places and people associated with them, and what happened after the Crown seized their buildings, contents and outlying properties.
Prof Clark is an expert in the place of monasteries on the cultural, religious and social fabric of medieval and Reformation England, and is professor of history at the University of Exeter.
His visit was part of the Friends’ summer series and took place on Saturday, June 18.
The society’s next event will be a walk along the first 10 miles of the St James Way, a 68-mile pilgrimage from the church to Southampton.
It takes place on Wednesday, July 20, and will go to Burghfield Common with refreshment stops along the way.
For more details, log on to readingabbey.org.uk
