. The earth and its inhabitants .. . IMUe. above its junction with the Thames It is a place of considerable historical fame,battles having been fought in its neighbourhood, and Parliaments held within itswalls. But the only object likely to interest the antiquary is the remains of aBenedictine abbey founded in 1121, and converted by Henry VIII. into a royalpalace. At the present day Reading is known chiefly on account of its biscuitfactory, which dispatches train-loads of them daily to every quarter of theglobe. There does not probably exist an article of food more widely dispersed BEEKSHIEE.
. The earth and its inhabitants .. . IMUe. above its junction with the Thames It is a place of considerable historical fame,battles having been fought in its neighbourhood, and Parliaments held within itswalls. But the only object likely to interest the antiquary is the remains of aBenedictine abbey founded in 1121, and converted by Henry VIII. into a royalpalace. At the present day Reading is known chiefly on account of its biscuitfactory, which dispatches train-loads of them daily to every quarter of theglobe. There does not probably exist an article of food more widely dispersed BEEKSHIEE. 159 than Reading biscuits, for they are eaten everywhere, from Alaska to NewZealand, and from Greenland to the Cape of Good Hope. Reading also exportsseeds for flowers, and has an iron foundry. Below the Town of Biscuits the Loddon, born in the North Downs, notfar from Basingstoke, mingles its water with that of the Thames. The country Fig. 87.— 1 : 55, 1 MUe. beyond that river is to a great extent covered with woods. Wokingham, formerlyknown as Oakingham, lies on the verge of the ancient royal forest, and up to1821 was noted for bull-baiting. Near it are Wellington College, for the educa-tion of officers sons, and the Royal Military College of Sandhurst, both on theroad to the camp of Aldershot (see p. 141). IQQ THE BEITISH ISLES. The Thames, between Reading and AVindsor, passes through some of the mostlovely scenery to be met with in England. Princely mansions are numerous inthis favoured region, most prominent amongst them being Cliefden, the seat ofthe Duke of Westminster, opposite the charming village of Cookham, on theBuckino-hamshire bank of the river. Maidenhead, the centre of this attractivedistrict, is more especially noted for the beauty of the surrounding scenery. Nearit stands the church of Brai/, known through its versatile vicar, who, true to hisprinciple, to live and die the Vicar of Bray, never hesitated to change hi
Size: 1466px × 1705px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectgeography, bookyear18
