Union Street, Reading facts for kids
| Smelly Alley | |
View north in 2007
|
|
| Location | Reading, Berkshire, UK |
|---|---|
| Postal code | RG1 |
| Coordinates | 51°27′22.58″N 0°58′24.04″W / 51.4562722°N 0.9733444°W |
Union Street, often called Smelly Alley by local people, is a special walking path in the middle of Reading, England. It is a narrow street filled with many small shops. This alley connects two other important streets: Broad Street and Friar Street.
Discovering Smelly Alley
Union Street got its fun nickname, Smelly Alley, around the 1940s. This was because of the many food shops found there. Imagine walking past butchers, greengrocers, and especially two wet fish shops! The smells from these shops mixed together, giving the alley its memorable name.
Shops Through the Years
In the 1970s, Smelly Alley was a very busy place. It had many different kinds of stores. You could find:
- Four butchers selling meat
- Two greengrocers with fresh fruits and vegetables
- Two wet fish shops, like Frosts, which was very well-known
- A baker's shop with fresh bread
- Two record shops for music lovers
- A hi-fi shop for sound systems
- A shop selling jeans
- A cozy cafe
- A roast chicken shop
- A chocolate shop for sweet treats
- A hardware shop for tools and home items
The long-standing fishmonger, Frosts, was a big reason for the alley's unique smell and its nickname. Even today, people in Reading still call it Smelly Alley, even though the shops have changed over time. It remains a popular place for shoppers looking for something a bit different.
