Forbury Gardens Survives

Originally published and written for AltReading on 21st June 2020

I doubt there is a single resident in Reading who doesn’t have some memory of time spent in Forbury Gardens. For me this has always been a place of peace and reflection, as it has been alongside me all of my life. I was christened in the church next to this wonderful place, and went to school alongside, and at some point or another walked through everyday (and I still do).

For some people Forbury Gardens may conjure up thoughts of listening to music performed in the bandstand, for others it may be spending the evening at a street food festival, for many it may be time spent getting drunk as a teenager.

Sadly, a new and upsetting memory of Forbury Gardens was added for people in Reading. On Saturday 20 June 2020, a man killed and severely injured many people at what appears to be a random and terrible act in the gardens..

The entire town’s thoughts and sympathies go out to the individuals and families affected by this tragedy. With the town already struggling as a result of the COVID-19, it can be hard to see how we can all recover.

But the history of Forbury Gardens is one of somewhere that despite war, despite poverty, despite chaos manages to survive and carry on.

The Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens

Forbury literally means ‘borough in front’ and it began its long life back in the 12th Century as a meeting place between Reading Abbey and the town. The semi-public space acted as the heart of Reading for more than 400 years and was often the site of markets and public meetings.

The hill, now in the centre of the park, was initially constructed as a fortification during the civil war between Henry I’s daughter, Matilda, and his nephew, Stephen. It would not be the last time it was the site of conflict.

In 1538, Reading Abbey was destroyed during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Once the sixth wealthiest abbey in England, its destruction saw the town’s focus move away Forbury towards what is now St Mary’s Butts.

During the Siege of Reading during the English Civil War, the hill in the Forbury was further fortified and built up for gun emplacements. The shape and structure still survives to this day.

However, after the Restoration of the monarchy, the Forbury spent 200 years gradually falling into disrepair and squalor. Now on the edge of town, it was used to deposit rubbish and dead animals. In 1848, the Board of Health even remarked on its poor state.

However, during the mid-nineteenth century the park had a revival. A fountation and summer house were built and the site re-opened as a ‘pleasure garden’. Fairs and sports were held in the park which was eventually brought into public ownership and it became known as Forbury Gardens.

In the late 19th Century, the park gradually began to develop into its modern form. The Maiwand Lion was erected in 1886, the bandstand in 1896 and the Victoria gates in 1897.

Over the course of a century the gardens had survived wars, disaster and squalor and yet by the 20th Century had returned to their rightful place at the heart of Reading.

The story of Forbury Gardens is one of resilience and survival. In 2015, on the outside of the park, a statue to Trooper Fred Potts was erected. At the Battle of Scimitar Hill, Trooper Potts saved a wounded comrade by dragging him across the battlefield with a shovel despite being under heavy fire.

The attack in Forbury Gardens is so upsetting because it strikes at the heart of what is best about the town. However, just like Forbury Gardens, the town will survive this and together, we will come out closer and stronger.