Memories of Christchurch Green & its Shops: New Exhibition Celebrates 120 Years of Local History - 13th & 14th June 2026

As part of the Whiteknights Studio Trail, a community exhibition celebrating the people, places and businesses that have shaped Christchurch Green over the past 120 years will take place during the Whiteknights Studio Trail weekend on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2026.

"Memories of Christchurch Green & its Shops: 1906–2026" is a free pop-up exhibition of photographs, newspaper cuttings and personal memories charting the history of Christchurch Green and its shops over the last century. The exhibition will be displayed in the Christchurch Road shop windows, with the main exhibition area at 85 Christchurch Road, Reading RG2 7BD and will be open from 11am to 6pm on both days.

Created by Friends of Christchurch Green in partnership with the University of Reading, the exhibition forms part of the University's Centenary celebrations and the 21st anniversary Whiteknights Studio Trail.

Drawing on photographs, newspaper cuttings, written recollections and local research, the exhibition explores the changing face of Christchurch Green, capturing everyday life in the neighbourhood from 1906 to the present day.

Visitors will discover stories of independent businesses, familiar local characters, changing streetscapes and the strong sense of community that continues to define the area today.

Many of the images and memories have been contributed by residents and families, creating a unique community archive that reflects both personal experiences and wider social change.

As part of the weekend's events, local poet and author John Froy will give two readings celebrating Christchurch Green and the surrounding area. Drawing on his years working as a house painter in the neighbourhood, John will read poems from his acclaimed book Eggshell: A Decorator's Notes.

The readings will take place at:

• Saturday 13 June, 3.00pm – Two Rivers Press
  (Whiteknights Studio Trail Venue 17)
  
  
• Sunday 14 June, 3.00pm – 85 Christchurch Road
  (Whiteknights Studio Trail Venue 16)

Visitors who have memories, photographs or stories of Christchurch Green are encouraged to get in touch, as Friends of Christchurch Green hopes to continue building and sharing the area's community history through future projects.

The exhibition is free to attend and no booking is required.

Event Details

Memories of Christchurch Green & its Shops: 1906–2026

Dates:  Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2026

Time:  11.00am – 6.00pm

Venue:  85 Christchurch Road, Reading RG2 7BD

Admission: Free

Part of the Whiteknights Studio Trail:   www.studiotrail.co.uk

Welcome to Friends of Christchurch Green

Who are we?

Friends of Christchurch Green (FoCG) is a group of neighbours who live in and around the Christchurch Green area of Reading. Many local residents have called this area home for years – often decades. With the town centre and the Royal Berkshire Hospital close by, Christchurch Green is a much-loved and well-used part of the community.

Friends of Christchurch Green was formed in early 2020, when seven very local residents came together following another Reading Borough Council planning application meeting affecting the area. The aim was simple: to give local people a collective voice and to work positively to protect, enhance and improve Christchurch Green and its surroundings.

Our aims and objectives

Our work is guided by the following aims:

• To encourage collaboration with interested parties and stakeholders

• To preserve and enhance Christchurch Green and its surrounding area

• To strengthen the sense of community and belonging

• To help make Christchurch Green an area that the community can be proud of

• To seek suitable funding opportunities that enable improvements for the benefit of the area

The group has continued to evolve and meet on a bi-monthly basis, alongside local Councillors and representatives from the University of Reading.  We discuss and progress identified issues and improvements for the area. There have been positive changes to the area, and the group continually strives to keep the area somewhere that residents and visitors can enjoy and feel safe in.

You are warmly invited to join our future dialogue and development.

What we’ve been working on

To date, our work and ideas include:

• Website (this Blog) – fairly basic (yes!), but tells people what we are about and how to contact us.

• Heating shop: Christchurch Road (and adjacent area of land) - discouraging unsightly rubbish tipping. 
• University and Councillors engagement: Regular communication with the University Community Engagement Manager regarding improvements to the Green. Whilst local councillors and the local MP have given their support to our aims and objectives and some of the activities we have undertaken to date, the Friends take no part in Party Politics. 
• Heritage Board: The funding, design and erection of a Heritage Board on Christchurch Green, linking the University with the Community. History of Whiteknights campus and the local area, bringing a sense of belonging to the area for new residents and new students. 
• Conservation:  Receiving regular feedback from the Conservation Committee (CAAC) on areas of special interest. 
• Social activities:  Arranging social gatherings – the chance to meet neighbours and make new friends. 
• Litter bins: Planning for more litter bins, perhaps sponsored by the University (consolidating the University and the community) along the kerbside to prevent cars mounting the pavement.
• Information sharing:  Through regular meetings, sharing information that is relevant and applicable with a mailing list.A website – simple but informative, explaining who we are and how to get in touch.
• Setting up a bank account:  There isn’t a cost to joining the group, but there are incidental costs to what we do, such as printing this letter.  A voluntary contribution of £5.00 to the account will ensure that no individual is out of pocket as a result of our activities.  Our bank details are as follows:

Account Name: Friends of Christchurch Green 

Account Number: 51195089

Sort Code: 60-01-13

To make a donation, please use your surname as a reference so that we can accurately monitor payments and maintain a (confidential) record of all payments made.

 The group has also investigated and instigated: 

• Regular litter-picks in the vicinity. We continue to monitor and report on the littering. 
• Deliveries and parking bay (Christchurch Road shops) 
• Keeping Cintra Park a place that the whole community can enjoy and use
• The condition of Back Lane behind Christchurch Road shops 
• Monitoring of and suggested changes to cycle lanes, traffic calming measures
• Monitoring and responding to planning applications in the vicinity, both new and those in progress 

WE INVITE YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS - COME JOIN US! 

Many residents around the Green have lived in their homes for years - often over decades.  Newcomers to the area are impressed by the friendly community that welcomes them.  Although much has been done, there is still much to do. You may also have ideas and views that haven’t been covered in the above. 

If you are interested in joining the Friends of Christchurch Group, we would like to hear from you. We have a mailing list to keep you up-dated about the work we are doing and the issues that affect this area - your neighbourhood! 

If you would like to know more, receive updates about what we are doing, or be involved in the work of the group, please complete the contact form, and someone will be in touch.

Our activities

You are invited to be a part of our future dialogue and development. 

Your involvement and contributions to the Friends regular bi-monthly meetings would be most welcomed. We have created a mailing list so that you can be kept fully updated with progress. Please use the contact form on this site to let us know if you would like to be added to the mailing list.

To date, ideas and progress have included: 

• Website/Blog – fairly basic, but tells people what we are about and how to contact us.
  
  
• Heating shop, Christchurch Road (and adjacent area of land) - discouraging unsightly rubbish tipping.
  
  
• University and Councillors engagement: Regular communication with the University Community Engagement Manager regarding improvements to the Green. Whilst local councillors and the local MP have given their support to our aims and objectives and some of the activities we have undertaken to-date, the Friends shall take no part in Party Politics.
  
  
• Heritage Board: The funding, design and erection of a Heritage Board on Christchurch Green, linking the University with the Community. History of Whiteknights campus and the local area, bringing a point of belonging to the area for new residents and new students.
   
• Conservation:  Receiving regular feed-back from the Conservation Committee (CAAC) on areas of special interest. 
  
  
• Social activities:  Arranging an annual social picnic – the chance to meet neighbours. 
  
  
• Litter bins: Planning for more litter bins, perhaps sponsored by the University (consolidating the University and the community) along the kerbside to prevent cars mounting the pavement.
  
  
• Information sharing:  Through regular meetings, sharing information that is relevant and applicable with a mailing list.
  
  
• Setting up a bank account:  There isn’t a cost to joining the group, but there are incidental costs to what we do, such as printing this letter.  A voluntary contribution of £5.00 to the account will ensure that no individual is out-of-pocket through our activities.

• Receiving regular feed-back from the Conservation Committee (CAAC) on areas of special interest. 

Also investigated and instigated: 

• Regular litter-picks in the vicinity. We continually monitor and report littering and fly-tipping
  
  
• Deliveries and parking bay (Christchurch Road shops) 

• Keeping Cintra Park a place that the whole community can enjoy and use safely

• Back Lane behind Christchurch Lane shops 
  
  
• Monitoring of and any suggested changes to cycle lanes, traffic calming measures, road layouts
  
  
• Monitoring and responding to planning applications in the vicinity, both new and those in progress. Making representation when required

Litter pick - Saturday 30th September 2023

Many thanks to everyone who turned up this morning for a very successful litter pick. 

There were 20 of us in total, picking for about an hour and then most stayed for refreshments and a chat at the Kung Fu Kitchen afterwards.

Northcourt Avenue seemed to win in terms of the quantity of litter, especially at the Christchurch Road end!  Unsure of whether that's as a result of students returning, or just because we've not collected for a few months.

Thank you to those folk who took away bags of rubbish to get rid of in their own household waste bins.

Open Gardens Event - Sunday 25th June 2023

Open Gardens - Sunday 25th June 2023
12 noon until 1800hrs

8 gardens, open for Charity. £5 entry (for all 8 gardens)

Gardens are large and small and full of surprises

Raising funds for the Royal Berkshire Charity, for research into Respiratory Medicine

Open 12 noon to 6pm

TEAS, CAKES & SAVOURY SNACKS available at 32 Shinfield Road (card payment welcome at this address)

1 ) 10 Addington Road, RG1 5JP (please note this garden will sadly no longer be open)
2 ) 37 Upper Redlands Road, RG1 5JE
3 ) 21 New Road, RG1 5JD
4 ) Community Garden, FREE. The Mount RG1 5HL
5 ) 85 Christchurch Road, RG2 7BD
6 ) 20 Cintra Close RG2 7AL
7 ) 23 Northcourt Avenue, RG2 7HE
8 ) 89 Northcourt Avenue, RG2 7HG
9 ) 28 Shinfield Road, RG2 7BW
10 ) TEAS - 32 Shinfield Road, RG2 7BW

Plants for sale at venues 2, 7 & 8

Toilets available at venues 6, 7, 8 & 10

ACCESS: Note, some gardens have steps and some have gravel

PARKING: University Car Parks - free on Sunday & in Northcourt Avenue

Two singers from Leighton Park School will be visiting venue 10 - 32 Shinfield Road, between 12.30 and 1pm, followed by the High Voltage Choir performing from 1.45-3pm. The Mayor will be touring the gardens at 12.30pm starting at venue 10 then onto 9, 5, 3 & 2.