Scene Showing Nos. 120-122

No attempt has been made to accurately display the true appearance of this building site. The illustration uses a number of standardised 'construction' image assets to communicate that building work was underway.

Broad Street

Reading's main shopping street, Broad Street was laid out shortly after the foundation of Reading Abbey in 1120. It appeared as 'Brode Stret' on John Speed's map of 1611 and hosted the Glorious Revolution's only battle in 1688. Until 1862, its eastern end comprised two narrow, parallel streets - Butcher Row & Fisher Row.

The eastern end of Broad Street was pedestrianised in 1997 and re-paved with red brick in 2001.

Reading

Reading is a town in the English county of Berkshire. It is regarded as the county town although, since the county council was abolished in 1998, that is a distinction of traditional rather than practical significance. It is the UK's largest town, having been denied official city status no less than four times - in 2000, 2002, 2012 and 2022. As such, it remains a borough, and has held that status since at least the time of the Domesday Book in 1068. A royal charter, granting independence from control by Reading Abbey, was issued in 1253. A second charter was issued in 1542, reflecting the abbey's dissolution in 1538. Since 1998, the borough has been a unitary authority.

Go to left end of street
This will take you to the scene containing the leftmost building on the side of the street that you are facing.

Go to middle of street
This will take you to a scene that is approximately halfway along the side of the street that you are facing.

Go to right end of street
This will take you to the scene containing the rightmost building on the side of the street that you are facing.

Open street map
This will take you to a page displaying a clickable street map from which you may navigate to a selection of scenes along this street.

Go to next left
This will shift you leftwards down the street by one scene.

Go forward
This would let you move forward into an adjoining street. However, there is not yet another street available for you to do that.

Face other side of street
This will turn you about 180° so that you are facing a scene on the opposite side of the street.

Go to next right
This will shift you righttwards down the street by one scene.

Open year selector
This will take you to a page displaying all the years that are currently available for the scene that you are looking at, any one of which may be clicked to navigate to that year.

Go to earliest year available
This will take you to the first year available for the scene that you are currently looking at.

Go to previous year
This will take the scene that you are currently looking at back one year in time. (This may or may not look any different depending on whether anything changed between those two years).

Go to next year
This will take the scene that you are currently looking at forward one year in time. (This may or may not look any different depending on whether anything changed between those two years).

Go to latest year available
This will take you to the most recent year available for the scene that you are currently looking at.

Building:
Former Freeman, Hardy & Willis building

This was built before 1885, when it appeared in a sketch by James Gafford, and was probably built in 1884, when shoe chain Freeman, Hardy & Willis acquired both Nos. 121 and 122. Had it been built before that, to accommodate the separate two shops then existing, the upper floors would probably also be divided.

 

Nos. 121-122
Vacant (no occupier)

This property was empty and unused.

2025 - Nos. 121-122 spent the latter part of 2025 screened by builders' hoardings. The fast food chain Shake Shack was reported to be preparing to move in, with an expected opening date in 2026. In the meantime, the shop remained vacant for its seventh consecutive year.

Building:
Former Colebrook & Son building

This building was erected in 1886 for George Colebrook & Son, butchers, replacing their previous shop. The architects were Charles Smith & Son of Friar Street, who designed it in 'Dutch renaissance' style.

 

No. 120
Vision Express (optician and/or optometrist)

Vision Express is a chain of opticians and optometrists established in 1988 in Gateshead by E. Dean Butler. It is headquartered in Ruddington. In 1997, it was acquired by French optical retailer Grand Vision (est. 1981).