Greyfriars Church, Reading
Description: Greyfriars Church
Grade: I
Date Listed: 22 March 1957
English Heritage Building ID: 38955
OS Grid Reference: SU7121073589
OS Grid Coordinates: 471210, 173589
Latitude/Longitude: 51.4568, -0.9765
Location: Friar Street, Reading RG1 1EH
Locality: Reading
County: Reading
Country: England
Postcode: RG1 1EH
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Listing Text
FRIAR STREET
1.
5128
(North Side)
Greyfriars Church
SU 7173 12/122 22.3.57.
I
2.
Church of England. Said to be the most complete surviving example of Fransiscan-
architecture in England, and in use again as a church. The first site (1255-59)
being unsatisfactory, the present church was built 1285 plus, and ready by
1311. It served as Town Bridewell during the C18 and was only restored circa
1863 by the Borough Surveyor (W H Woodmn). Built of squared knapped flints
with stone plinth, dressings and buttresses. Tiled roof swept down over aisles
with small vents. 3 bay nave, large transept (added to church by Woodman,
probably incorrectly), chancel removed after the Reformation and east chancel
arch blocked. Gable over now carries Woodman's triple arched belfry. The nave
has segmental headed 3 light windows of plain decorated style and an extremely
fine west window of 5 lights, decorated style with reticulated tracery. The
transept has 2 bays each side of main vessel, each with plain 'Y' tracery,
the north and south windows 4-light in Decorated style. North and south doors
in nave with moulded pointed arches. Interior spacious; crown post and wind-brace
roof supported on original cruciform and quadriblobe shafts. Gabled and arcaded
retable. Font and pulpit date from restoration. Entrance now in annexe to
west.
Listing NGR: SU7121673588
Source: English Heritage
Listed building text is © Crown Copyright. Reproduced under licence.