The Changing Face of Reading - Friar Street to Broad Street

Here's the 'final'(?) film in Doug Noyes' description and evaluation of 'The Changing Face of Reading'. It takes us from Friar Street to Broad Street, stopping-off in Garrard Street, Market Place, Buttermarket, Kings Street, Kings Road, Duke Street and Minster Street along the way. The quality of the images are a bit variable but there is some facinating bits of history shown here! As usual, Doug Noyes provides the commentary of a man who 'knew his subject' very well....often personally!

[@KenBruce-kl2or]

Fabulous work. I have very many monochrome pictures of the town between 1972-77. I worked at Langston's as a boy between 73-77. The bicycle shop and bun shop were next door. The Mitre pub and Raffina Cafe opposite. I visited recently the Raffina, Broad St and eventually found 'smelly alley ' linking Friar St. So much change from my time as a 70's school boy

[@joedoak]

Thanks Ken. You might consider making a video out of all those photos.

[@ianhelps3749]

Jacksons had a pneumatic tube system for sending cash to accounts in the 1970s. I got my school uniform and sports kit from there. They also had a foot X -ray machine in the shoe department.

[@KenBruce-kl2or]

I remember the green glow of my feet in the X ray machine! It was 'safe' back then!

[@romystumpy1197]

Yes Jackson was great ladies in tweed skirts and hand written receipts still in 1989

[@jochakram2363]

This is fascinating. Thanks so much for the amazing information. 😁👍
But, oh, the god awful characterless concrete buildings of the 60s and 70s! Broke my heart to see them take the place of such a variety of classic architecture! 😢

[@ianthompson9201]

Fascinating and very nostalgic. Far too much of Reading was destroyed during the 60s and 70s, simply because reusing buildings demands more imagination than calling in the bulldozers.

[@lydiamond12]

December 2021 - Whilst watching this I had Google maps open and both Friar Street and Broad Street have gone through major changes yet again. The black door by Patisserie Valerie is still there. Totally fascinating.

[@philharry7213]

I remember old Reading, I worked at Burtons in the late 1960,s thanks for the nostalgia.

[@herbieshine1312]

Another big thanks for posting this video.
I'm going to show it to my parents when possible.
I think they'll be really interested to see it.
It's fascinating to see the changes happening like this.
It's a little scary how even the footage of the 80's-90's, the period I really remember being in and around the town centre, looks really old and seems a very long time ago!!
Fantastic stuff

[@markamusprimetime]

I can not thank you enough for this.

[@landersphotography2682]

Wow very interesting, crazy how things change.

[@mqb5151]

Amazing I wish you could do more videos about other parts of Reading....this information is invaluable. Thank you so much.

[@joedoak]

Thanks Kadir. Have you seen the other videos we’ve posted on my channel? See ua-cam.com/channels/M9sGe8pGM5H-ngGuLxT_8A.html

[@berylannejoseybiggs7995]

Very interesting

[@stewartwebb5699]

I remember buying overalls from Langstons...

[@romystumpy1197]

Oh yes I bought a set in 1985

[@krebdal]

Reading has been destroyed by development.