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.

Litter pick - Wednesday 26th March 2025, 1-3pm - please join us!

Some of the volunteers at a previous litter pick

Local volunteers are needed to help with a litter pick in the Christchurch area on Wednesday 26th March 2025 - 1pm-3pm.

Our previous litter picks have always been very successful, with around 10/12 volunteers. 

On this occasion we will be working collaboratively with the University of Reading who are also recruiting volunteers, so that between us we should have an excellent turn out.

The area covered will include  Shinfield Rd (to Pepper Lane), Christchurch Road (to Warwick Road), Cintra Avenue & Warwick Road, Cintra Close, Whitley Park Lane, top of Upper Redlands, Upper Redlands and around New Road, Elmhurst and Marlborough Avenue, Upper and Lower Mount, Northcourt Avenue, Wellington Avenue.  

The pick up area will be adjusted according to the number of volunteers who turn up.

Volunteers will meet at 1pm on the corner of Northcourt Avenue outside Greggs.

The plan is to collect litter for 1-1 1/2 hours - the more participants we have, the less time it will take. 

Litter bags, litter pickers, gloves and hi-viz vests will be supplied as well as hand sanitizer. If you have and are happy to use your own equipment, please feel free to bring that along. 

Any rubbish collected will be placed into existing street litter bins or left in tied bags next to bins. If volunteers have any space in their own wheelie bins, it would be helpful if some litter could be taken away and disposed of in this way.  Any glass collected will be deposited in the recycling banks in Pepper Lane. 

Once the litter pick is completed, volunteers are invited to get together for refreshments (hot drinks, snacks, lunch) in the Happy Panda Cafe, so please bring some money with you.  This is always a chance to meet and get to know your local neighbours.

Simone Illger will be co-ordinating activities on the day, and will stay stationed at the corner by Greggs during the litter pick to assist with queries. 

If you are interested in helping with this initiative, please could you reply to this email address by Sunday 23rd March, to get an idea of numbers and can plan accordingly.  It will also allow us to alert you if the event is cancelled on the day due to bad weather.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the 23rd.

Heritage Board installed on Christchurch Green

The Friends of Christchurch Green are delighted to announce the arrival of a Heritage Board to celebrate the history of this vibrant part of Reading and are honoured that the Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading, Professor Robert Van de Noort CBE, will unveil the Board on Wednesday 21 February 2024 marking the close relationship between the University and the community.  The board is located at the junction of Shinfield Road, Christchurch Road and Redlands Road close to the main entrance of the University’s Whiteknights campus. 
 
Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “The University is proud to have played a part in welcoming this new heritage board to Christchurch Green. It serves as a fantastic reminder for all about our connection with the local community, both now and in the past.” 
 
The idea for this Heritage Board came from the artist Jenny Halstead, well known locally for the Whiteknights Studio Trail (now in its 24th year).
 
Jenny says :
 
“I wanted to celebrate this area – where 5 roads meet, linking the community to the University‘s beautiful Whiteknights campus. Even in an age of information, a permanent site offers an introduction to the area, and creates a sense of belonging to new students and new residents alike.
 
The Board welcomes people to Christchurch Green - (presently only recognised by named bus stops).
 
It gives a short history of the University and the area around which we live – biscuits, bulbs, beer and bricks with an image circa 1906 looking up Shinfield Road from the Green. I have chosen three individuals (selected from hundreds) who I think represent both University and community in their different walks of life and list the exciting places to visit, all free and within easy walking distance from the Board.
 
The back of the Board shows a map of the area in 1840, a rural landscape showing only Christchurch Road and Red Lane (now Redlands Road) before either Elmhurst, Marlborough or Northcourt Avenue were even built.
 
We are grateful to RGSpaces, a local charity and The University of Reading for funding, James Dibble from Equal Studio Ltd. for designing and producing the Board and Reading Borough Council staff involved in its installed.”
 
Annette Howarth, Chair of RGSpaces who offered half the sponsorship grant said:
 
“RG Spaces was delighted to be able to help the installation of this heritage board. Standing at the crossroads linking the University and the town, Christchurch Green is the perfect spot to help both students and residents learn more about some of their distinguished predecessors and their neighbourhood’s rich history.”
 
Dave McElroy, Redlands Green Party Councillor said:
 
“Great to see town and gown working together to celebrate our special part of Reading. Well done to Jenny and the team for getting this lovely landmark installed.”
 
Fiona Talkington, local resident and BBC Radio 3 Presenter, grew up around Christchurch Green and says:
 
“I crossed over the Green to get to school, I had my first job in the shops at the Green and   during lockdown I presented my radio shows from home close to the Green. It’s a place held in great affection by many.”
 
Robert Cox is another local resident who grew up close to the Green. He’s seen many changes, but, he says:  “The Green is still recognisable and, for me, reaching it after a journey it means ‘you’re nearly home now’”.

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