Amazing archive photos show the changing face of Reading in the 1960s

In 2020, Reading is a constantly evolving town, with old buildings being replaced by new and homes springing up at a rapid rate.

And these pictures from more than 50 years ago show that seems to have always been the case with numerous examples of work going on around the town even back then.

Now, a lot of the 1960s architecture has been replaced.

But there is one example that remains still in place, and that’s the Meadway Precinct.

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These pictures from 1967 show the precinct in Tilehurst after it opened in February of that year.

Local children seem to be very excited by it. Now, it’s seen as something that very much needs knocking down.

Other pictures include views of the town from the top of the old Prudential building looking towards St Laurence’s Church.

Read more: Archive pictures show demolition work required to build old Reading Civic Offices in 1972

Read more: A look back at how Reading town centre looked more than 20 years ago

We recently looked back at the building of the old Civic Centre, and one of the pictures shows the shops lost to build it.

Other pictures show the old White Hart Hotel, which we think was where Metro Bank is now as well as the lines which used to carry the Trolley Buses.

And, of course, there’s the old Western Tower, which used to house Royal Mail staff.

It stood for almost 20 years after the staff left in the mid-1990s and was was eventually demolished for the Station Hill development in 2015.

The pictures are all from the late 1960s and show various parts of Reading.

Do you have any archive pictures that you would like to share? Please email the details to berkshirelive@reachplc.com.