History of Reading Prison

Reading Prison is currently in the news as the local community campaigns to turn it into a site for the arts and culture instead of luxury flats.

Join us to hear about the long history of Reading Prison as Mark Stevens talks about this Victorian Berkshire institution. His brief history of the county gaol gives a glimpse behind the wall, focussing on the Georgian period to the end of the First World War.

Mark Stevens is County Archivist for Berkshire. He has published two books on 19th century mental health: 'Broadmoor Revealed' and 'Life in the Victorian Asylum', the latter of which is based on the Fair Mile Hospital in Cholsey.

For those unable to make the event in person, it will also be available via zoom: Zoom - History of Reading Prison