Hospitium of St John the Baptist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hospitium of St John |
|
|---|---|
The former main building of the hospitium
|
|
| Type | Hospitium |
| Built | 1189 / 1485 |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Official name: Municipal Buildings | |
| Designated | 22 March 1957 |
| Reference no. | 1113402 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Hospitium of St John the Baptist was a special building. It was like a guesthouse or dormitory for travelers. These travelers were often pilgrims visiting Reading Abbey. Reading Abbey was a very old and large abbey in Reading, England. Today, the abbey is mostly in ruins.
The hospitium was built in 1189. At its biggest, it had many buildings. It could hold up to 400 people! The main building of the hospitium is still standing today. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it is important and protected. Much of the original hospitium used to be where Reading Town Hall is now.
Contents
A Home for Students and the Town Council
The Abbey School Moves In
In 1125, a school for the abbey was started. In 1485, this school moved into the hospitium. It became known as the Royal Grammar School of King Henry VII. The main building you see today probably dates from this time. It likely includes parts of the older 1189 building. The abbey school still exists today. It is now called Reading School. It is a state grammar school, but it is in different buildings.
Becoming the Town Hall
About 100 years after the school moved in, big changes happened. This was after the dissolution of the monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and abbeys. Reading town council then needed a new place to meet. They turned the hospitium's dining hall (called a refectory) into their new town hall. They added an upper floor for their meetings. The school continued to use the lower floor.
This building was the home of Reading's town government for about 200 years. But the old dining hall building eventually became unsafe. So, between 1785 and 1786, it was taken down. A new building was put up in its place. This new building was the first part of what is now today's Town Hall. The main hospitium building was saved from this demolition. It was then used for different things over the years.
From College to Nursery
A University Begins Here
In 1892, a new school called the College at Reading was started. It was an extension college of the University of Oxford. This college used the hospitium building. In 1904, the Palmer family gave the college a new site. The Palmers were famous for their Huntley & Palmers biscuits.
In 1926, the college received a special document called a Royal Charter. This made it an official university. It became the University of Reading.
What It Is Today
More recently, the hospitium building has become part of a modern office area. Today, it is used as a children's nursery.
Where It Stands Today
The surviving hospitium building is now in a somewhat hidden spot. It does not have direct access from a street. It is next to the main concert hall of Reading Town Hall on its west side. The south side of the building opens directly onto the churchyard of St Laurence's Church. Modern office buildings surround the north and east sides. There is a small courtyard between them.
Gallery
-
The Hospitium seen from the churchyard, with Town Hall to left and office development behind
-
The north side of the Hospitium seen from the courtyard of the office development
-
The roof of the hospitium is seen in the centre here, surrounded by churchyard, Town Hall and offices
