Reading

Today we caught the train to Reading for a look around the historic sections of town.
Just for something different, I thought I'd make this blog mostly "Church" related.  Don't worry, Chris also thinks I may have lost the plot!
Firstly, we visited Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin.  We all know Chris is no giant, but even she would have bumped her head on this door.  Inside was typically lovely, but what really caught my eye was a plaque listing the Vicars of the Parish, starting with the first - William de Lincoln 1173 to 1180.  That's only the official records.  Tradition says St Birinus founded a small chapel on the site in the 7th century.



This little fella doesn't care much about the history.  So long as it can find a few acorns and can run over the graves, it's happy.
Most of the locals regard squirrels as a pest because they make a mess in the gardens, but they are cute!

 Being so old, a lot of the graves are in poor condition and many of the inscriptions have long since become illegible - not that there would be too many relatives visiting on a regular basis.
I wonder whether the widow paid extra to ensure her departed husband couldn't get out!

 This impressive 16 tonne monument commemorates a sad event in British military history (and, of course, history repeats).
In 1880, nearly half of the Royal Berkshire Regiment were killed in the Battle of Maiwand in Afghanistan.  The names of the 328 killed are listed on the plaques which feature on all four sides.
As you would expect, there are numerous cases of soldiers with common surnames.  Brothers and cousins, most likely.

 Keeping the church theme going - we visited the Abbey Ruins.
Here's a brief history:
1121 King Henry founds Reading Abbey.  We would call him King Henry I, but I guess he didn't know if there would be a King Henry II, so he was just King Henry!
1539 Henry VIII demands control of the Abbey.  Abbot Hugh refuses, so Henry closes the Abbey and executes Abbot Hugh. That's one way of solving a problem!
1643 The Abbey was severely damaged during the Civil War.  There's no further mention of severe damage, so I assume they totally destroyed it!
2018 The Abbey Ruins are reopened after restoration.

King Henry wanted to be buried here, but died in France so his body was returned the the Abbey for burial.  That little trip took over a month!

 At the start I said this blog was mainly church related.  I couldn't pass this one over though.  This has got to be the best campsite in Great Britain.  Under the weeping willow trees, in a beautiful park right beside the Thames River - how good is that?  I'm pretty sure it isn't legal and wonder how long the happy campers will have before the wallopers move them on!

Seen today: Halloween contact lenses (never let a chance go by!); Maralyn's Rock Choir; Men fishing in the Thames. Not seen today - the copy of the Bayeux Tapestry in the Reading Museum- it was closed for the day.