Oxford Road, Reading



Oxford Road is an urban street and major arterial road in Reading, Berkshire, England, Beginning near the town centre at the meeting of St. Mary's Butts/West Street/Broad Street. The road leads west to Pangbourne, continuing eventually to the city of Oxford. The road was previously known as Pangbourne Lane.

History
Oxford Road has been a principal westward artery from the medieval centre of Reading towards Pangbourne and Oxford since its early days. Its transformation has been a reflection of Reading's growth and societal changes over the centuries. Early Beginnings to 19th Century Development.

Initially, Oxford Road was surrounded by open farmlands until the early 19th century. However, the 1800s marked a significant shift, as these agricultural fields gradually gave way to housing. The development began with elegant homes for Reading's affluent, followed by more modest terraced houses for workers of emerging local industries post-1840, coinciding with the railway's arrival. These Georgian and Victorian homes define Oxford Road's historic urban charm. Notably, many of these structures are recognised as listed buildings within the expansive Castle Hill/Russell Street/Oxford Road Conservation Area. A part of this area, particularly from the town center to Reading West railway station, is a segment of Reading's High Street Heritage Action Zone, initiated in September 2019.

Battle Farm and Reading's Early History
The historical tapestry of Oxford Road includes Battle Farm, which predates the 19th-century developments. The farm's name hints at Reading's ancient past, traceable to 871 AD when Vikings established a fortified camp nearby. This area, which later became part of Oxford Road, was farmland owned by Abbess Elveva around the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. William the Conqueror subsequently annexed this land for Battle Abbey, a connection still commemorated in local names like Battle School and Battle Library.

19th Century: Transformation and Expansion
The 1800s saw Oxford Road and its vicinity evolve from market gardens and sparse properties to a bustling suburb. Prominent families like the Swallows initiated housing developments, attracting wealthy residents. The area's architectural landscape was further enriched by religious structures, such as the 1826 Holy Trinity Church, and by educational institutions like the Oxford Road Board school, established in 1880.

1840s: Photographic Pioneering and Infrastructure
The mid-19th century introduced notable advancements, including one of the world's first commercial photographic studios, established by Fox Talbot, a photography pioneer. Infrastructure also progressed with the construction of the Reading West Bridge in 1847, as part of the Great Western Railway, delineating the Oxford Road's residential and commercial sections.

20th Century: Diversity and Regeneration
The 20th century marked Oxford Road as a melting pot of cultures, initially with Eastern European and Russian Jewish immigrants establishing a community and founding the Reading Synagogue in 1900. The post-1950s saw an influx of Irish, Eastern European, and Caribbean settlers, contributing to the area's cultural diversity. This multicultural heritage was formally recognised in 2012 under the 'A World in One Place' initiative.

Present
Most of the road is designated the A329. Reading West railway station is near the eastern end of Oxford Road. Tilehurst railway station is near the western end of the road, serving the Reading suburb of Tilehurst. The road to the northwest becomes Purley Rise at Purley on Thames, leading to Pangbourne. To the east in central Reading, it becomes Broad Street, the main pedestrianised shopping street in Reading.

Travelling from east to west, the road passes the Broad Street Mall shopping centre before crossing the town's Inner Distribution Road on a bridge. Some 500 m further on, Holy Trinity Church is passesd on the right, closely followed by the Oxford Road Community School at 146 Oxford Road. Battle Library is at 420 Oxford Road. The Oxford Road Community Garden is located in Western Elms Avenue, off the Oxford Road.

The entrance to the Battle Hospital (closed in 2005) was located at 344 Oxford Road, where the original gate still stands.

The Chatham Street development off Oxford Road, which is still under construction (as of 2010), offers possible improvement for this part of Reading with a £250 million investment scheme, including new shops, accommodation, services and leisure facilities.

Notable residents
Mike Oldfield's Family lived on Western Elms Avenue, where his Father worked as a General Practitioner.

Trivia
The first Little Chef Restaurant was opened on Oxford Road in 1958.