Reading Town Hall, Grade II* listed civic building in Reading, England
Reading Town Hall is a civic building in Italianate style on Blagrave Street in the centre of Reading, featuring a clock tower on its main front. It is made up of several wings added at different times, combining Victorian Gothic details with classical stonework.
The building replaced an earlier medieval structure on the same site and grew through several phases between 1786 and 1897. The architect Alfred Waterhouse shaped its current appearance in 1875, designing the main front and the clock tower.
The concert hall inside the building has long been a gathering place for music and art in Reading. Locals and visitors attend performances there throughout the year, making it a living part of the town's daily life.
The building sits on Blagrave Street in the centre of Reading, close to the remains of Reading Abbey, and is easy to reach on foot from the main shopping area. Museum rooms and event spaces are open to the public, so it is worth checking opening times before visiting.
The clock tower contains a carillon made by Gillett and Bland that still rings out over the town centre today. This type of bell mechanism is rarely found in English civic buildings, making it an unusual detail for those who notice it.
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