List of public art in Berkshire

Last updated

This is a list of public art in the English county of Berkshire. This list applies only to works of art accessible in an outdoor public space. For example, this does not include artwork visible inside a museum.

Contents

Bradfield

List of public art in Bradfield
ImageTitle / subjectLocation and
coordinates
DateArtist / designerTypeMaterialDimensionsDesignationNotes
Bradfield War Memorial (geograph 5239694).jpg
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Bradfield War MemorialEquidistant between Bradfield College and Southend Bradfield

51°26′15″N1°08′15″W / 51.437436°N 1.137477°W / 51.437436; -1.137477
1920 George Blackall Simonds Memorial

Maidenhead

List of public art in Maidenhead
ImageTitle / subjectLocation and
coordinates
DateArtist / designerTypeMaterialDimensionsDesignationNotes
Ada Lewis Fountain.jpg
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Ada Lewis Memorial FountainBridge Gardens

51°31′27″N0°42′12″W / 51.52416°N 0.70326°W / 51.52416; -0.70326
1908 Fountain This memorial was originally erected in 1908 in memory of local benefactor Ada Lewis, and was used as a drinking trough. In late 2010 the memorial was relocated to a more central position within Bridge Gardens. The illuminated fountain sits within a pool, and is surrounded by a paved area with seating, so users can enjoy the fountain as well as views of the River Thames and Maidenhead Bridge.

Newbury

List of public art in Newbury
ImageTitle / subjectLocation and
coordinates
DateArtist / designerTypeMaterialDimensionsDesignationNotes
Newbury - Ebb And Flow (geograph 2918295).jpg
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Ebb And Flow Newbury Lock

51°24′06″N1°19′32″W / 51.401658°N 1.325552°W / 51.401658; -1.325552
Peter Randall-Page Fountain / Sculpture Granite 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) diameterThe work comprises a large granite bowl set at the centre of a spiral granite path leading down from the lock. The bowl is connected to the lock by underground piping so that when the lock fills, water flows into the bowl and then empties away as the level of the water in the lock goes down. [1]
Queen Victoria's Statue, Victoria Park.jpg
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Queen Victoria Victoria Park

51°24′16″N1°19′11″W / 51.404482°N 1.319589°W / 51.404482; -1.319589
Statue

Pangbourne

List of public art in Pangbourne
ImageTitle / subjectLocation and
coordinates
DateArtist / designerTypeMaterialDimensionsDesignationNotes
The Elephant, Pangbourne (geograph 6133956).jpg
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Elephant statue at The Elephant Pangbourne

51°29′00″N1°05′16″W / 51.48336°N 1.08764°W / 51.48336; -1.08764
Statue
Village name sign - Pangbourne - geograph.org.uk - 218346.jpg
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Pangbourne Village Sign Pangbourne

51°29′03″N1°05′18″W / 51.484291°N 1.08837°W / 51.484291; -1.08837
Village sign

Reading

List of public art in Reading
ImageTitle / subjectLocation and
coordinates
DateArtist / designerTypeMaterialDimensionsDesignationNotes
Abbey Gateway Head 2020-03-01 15.17.52.jpg
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Abbey Gateway Heads Abbey Gateway

51°27′23.2″N0°58′00.5″W / 51.456444°N 0.966806°W / 51.456444; -0.966806
1900 Andrew Ohlson Sculpture Stone A series of heads, attached to the medieval former inner gateway of Reading Abbey. [2] [3]
Armoured Heart 2023-06-06 19.28.05.jpg
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l'Armour, or the Armoured Heart The Oracle Riverside

51°27′12.38″N0°58′12.83″W / 51.4534389°N 0.9702306°W / 51.4534389; -0.9702306
2023 Stuart Melrose Sculpture Metal
Sculpture constructed by the Reading Amnesty Art Project and incorporating reclaimed weapons from knife amnesty bins.
Sculpture by Jens Flemming Sorensen (Geograph-4388230-by-Bill-Nicholls).jpg
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Balls Head / Interpretation of Ruins Reading Abbey

51°27′21″N0°57′55″W / 51.455920°N 0.965399°W / 51.455920; -0.965399
2000 Jens-Flemming Sørensen Sculpture Bronze A sculpture based on an interpretation of the adjacent ruins of the abbey. It has no formal name, but is sometimes referred to as either the Balls Head or the Interpretation of Ruins. [4]
Black History Mural, Reading - geograph.org.uk - 605875.jpg
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Black History MuralMill Lane

51°27′10″N0°58′08″W / 51.4528°N 0.969°W / 51.4528; -0.969
1988 Alan Howard with members of Reading Central Club Mural Mural illustrating the roles black people have played throughout history. [5]
Cartwheeling boys (Geograph-2863826-by-Paul-Gillett).jpg
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Cartwheeling BoysCivic Centre

51°27′12″N0°58′34″W / 51.45339°N 0.976029°W / 51.45339; -0.976029
Brian Slack Sculpture Erected to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the link between Reading and Düsseldorf established by Phoebe Cusden in 1947. [6] It was toppled by Storm Eunice on 18 February 2022. [7]
St. Martin's Precinct, Caversham - geograph.org.uk - 716723.jpg
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Caversham Village Sign Caversham

51°28′03″N0°58′29″W / 51.467565°N 0.974626°W / 51.467565; -0.974626
Stuart King Village sign Erected in 2003 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II and repaired and conserved by the original artist in 2019. [8]
The war memorial in Caversham Meadows (geograph 6781859).jpg
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Caversham War Memorial Christchurch Meadows, Caversham

51°27′55″N0°58′32″W / 51.465362°N 0.97543°W / 51.465362; -0.97543
1928 Memorial column Stone Commemorates the dead of Caversham in the First World War, Second World War and war in Afghanistan. [9] [10]
Kennet Island 2015-10-11 11.40.18.jpg
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Central Piazza Water FeatureKennet Island

51°25′51″N0°58′32″W / 51.430908°N 0.975615°W / 51.430908; -0.975615
Fountain
Compleat Angler, Reading, 2019-04-28 15.22.05.jpg
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Compleat AnglerChocolate Island in River Kennet

51°27′22″N0°57′41″W / 51.455999°N 0.961520°W / 51.455999; -0.961520
1992 Kevin Atherton Statue Statue of an angler placed on Chocolate Island in the River Kennet, where that river once flowed through the Huntley & Palmers factory. The statue was erected when the factory closed to commemorate the people of Reading who worked there. [6]
Reading Cows.jpg
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CowsRegent Court

51°27′31″N0°58′41″W / 51.458554°N 0.977980°W / 51.458554; -0.977980
Mural Mural of cows situated close to the Reading Cattle Market.
Edward VII Statue, Reading - geograph.org.uk - 1769838.jpg
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Edward VIIStation Square

51°27′28″N0°58′21″W / 51.45773°N 0.9724°W / 51.45773; -0.9724
1902 George Edward Wade Statue Bronze Grade II Celebrates the coronation of King Edward VII. [11]
Banksys escaping convict on Reading Gaol (geograph 6770032).jpg
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Escaping convict on Reading Gaol Reading Gaol

51°27′24″N0°57′49″W / 51.456710°N 0.963530°W / 51.456710; -0.963530
2021 Banksy Graffiti Paint on brickworkThe mural of an escaping prisoner - possibly resembling famous inmate Oscar Wilde - appeared on the walls of the disused Reading jail on Monday 01 March 2021. Reading prison famously housed Irish writer Wilde between 1895 and 1897 and was immortalised by his poem Ballad of Reading Gaol, which reflected on the brutality of the Victorian penal system.
Trooper Potts VC & Berkshire Yeomanry Memorials.jpg
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Frederick Potts MemorialThe Forbury

51°27′24″N0°58′02″W / 51.456552°N 0.967194°W / 51.456552; -0.967194
2015 Tom Murphy Memorial
Sculpture
Bronze Commemorates and depicts the rescue of Trooper Arthur Andrews by Trooper Frederick Potts, both men having been wounded during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I, and for which Potts was awarded the Victoria Cross. Adjacent is a roll of honour to the 426 men of the Berkshire Yeomanry, the regiment to which both Potts and Andrews belonged, who lost their lives in the wars of the 20th Century. Both are mounted on plinths faced in Portland stone. [12]
Sculpture, Reading International Business Park - geograph.org.uk - 182271.jpg
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GatewayReading International Business Park

51°24′58″N0°58′26″W / 51.416°N 0.974°W / 51.416; -0.974
2000 Clare Bigger Sculpture At the entrance to the Reading International Business Park. [13]
Statue of George Palmer.jpg
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George Palmer Palmer Park

51°27′07″N0°56′19″W / 51.451946°N 0.938628°W / 51.451946; -0.938628
1891 George Blackall Simonds Statue Bronze Grade II Commemorates George Palmer, the founder of the biscuit manufacturers Huntley & Palmers. Originally sited in Broad Street, but relocated to Palmer Park in 1930. [14]
The Girl and the Swan (geograph 2215057).jpg
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Girl and SwanKings Road

51°27′17″N0°57′53″W / 51.4548°N 0.9647°W / 51.4548; -0.9647
1984 Lorne McKean Statue Bronze Depicts a young girl reaching up to touch a swan flying overhead. [15]
Hexham Road TreeCommunity Centre, Hexham Road

51°26′15″N0°57′33″W / 51.437429°N 0.959145°W / 51.437429; -0.959145
1998 Bhajan Hunjan Three dimensional mural on the wall of Hexham Road Community Centre. [6]
Reading Abbey, Martyrdom Bas-relief.jpg
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Hugh de Boves and Hugh of Faringdon Memorials Reading Abbey

51°27′23″N0°57′54″W / 51.456363°N 0.964878°W / 51.456363; -0.964878
1911 William Silver Frith Relief Limestone Two stone reliefs, showing the first and the last abbot of Reading Abbey and flanking the east end of the ruined chapter house of the abbey. [16] [17]
Inner Light 2018-09-30 14.19.10.jpg
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Inner LightKings Road

51°27′21″N0°57′42″W / 51.455736°N 0.961695°W / 51.455736; -0.961695
1992 Liliane Lijn Sculpture Overlooks the River Kennet behind the offices of Prudential in Kings Road, Reading [6]
Reading International Brigade Memorial 2015-05-03 12.38.38.jpg
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International Brigade Memorial Forbury Gardens

51°27′25″N0°57′57″W / 51.456816°N 0.965834°W / 51.456816; -0.965834
1990 Eric Stanford Memorial
Statue
Memorial to the Reading members of the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War. Originally sited at Reading Civic Centre but relocated to Forbury Gardens in 2015. [18]
Jubilee Fountain, Reading.jpg
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Jubilee Fountain St Mary's Butts

51°27′15″N0°58′27″W / 51.454233°N 0.974229°W / 51.454233; -0.974229
1887 George W Webb Fountain Stone Commemorates Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. In Red Mansfield and Portland stone and Peterhead granite. The fountain bowl has been converted into a flower display. [19]
The Maiwand Lion, Forbury Gardens, Reading.jpg
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Maiwand Lion Forbury Gardens

51°27′25″N0°58′03″W / 51.456952°N 0.967481°W / 51.456952; -0.967481
1884 George Blackall Simonds Memorial
Sculpture
Cast iron Grade II Commemorates the Battle of Maiwand in 1880.
Meteor Garden 2019-09-25-14-19-30.jpg
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Meteor Garden Harris Garden, University of Reading

51°26′08″N0°56′27″W / 51.435653°N 0.940898°W / 51.435653; -0.940898
2015 Sculpture Sponsored by the Friends of the Harris Garden and designed by their volunteers.
Oscar Wilde Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 2782.jpg
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Oscar Wilde MemorialChestnut Walk

51°27′21″N0°57′49″W / 51.455805°N 0.963573°W / 51.455805; -0.963573
2000 Bruce Williams
and
Paul Muldoon
Memorial Memorial to Oscar Wilde, who was imprisoned in the adjacent Reading Gaol and wrote the Ballad of Reading Gaol . Comprises metal gates, fencing and seats all with cultural references to Wilde. [20]
Pivotal artwork on Station Hill development seen from Reading railway station (geograph 7974870).jpg
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Pivotal Station Hill development

51°27′30″N0°58′24″W / 51.45823°N 0.97343°W / 51.45823; -0.97343
2024NEON Sculpture A kinetic artwork inspired by flags and composed of 73 brightly coloured fins, each of which moves in the wind. [21]
Queen going green - geograph.org.uk - 725263.jpg
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Queen Victoria Town Hall Square

51°27′24″N0°58′13″W / 51.456551°N 0.970177°W / 51.456551; -0.970177
George Blackall Simonds Statue Marble Grade II Celebrates the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. [22]
Reading War Memorial.jpg
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Reading Cenotaph Forbury Gardens

51°27′24″N0°58′05″W / 51.456547°N 0.968046°W / 51.456547; -0.968046
1932 Edward Leslie Gunston Memorial column Stone Commemorates the dead of Reading and Berkshire in the First World War. [23]
Robed Figure by Elisabeth Frink, Reading.jpg
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Robed Figure Reading Abbey

51°27′22″N0°57′56″W / 51.456197°N 0.965418°W / 51.456197; -0.965418
1988 Elisabeth Frink Statue A near-duplicate of the central of the central figure from Elisabeth Frink's work Martyrs of Dorchester. [24]
Statue in the Gardens (geograph 3701361).jpg
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Rufus IsaacsEldon Square

51°27′28″N0°58′21″W / 51.45773°N 0.9724°W / 51.45773; -0.9724
Charles Sargeant Jagger Statue Commemorates Rufus Isaacs, who held the roles of Attorney General, Lord Chief Justice and Viceroy of India, and was the first Marquess of Reading. The statue was originally sited in New Delhi but was offered as a gift to Reading after India achieved its independence in 1947. It was relocated to its current location in 1971. [6] [25]
Water feature, Forbury Gardens, Reading - geograph.org.uk - 1288869.jpg
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Rustic Fountain Forbury Gardens

51°25′51″N0°58′32″W / 51.430908°N 0.975615°W / 51.430908; -0.975615
1856 Fountain A rustic fountain in a pond, by an unknown artist but believed to date from 1856 when the town's Forbury was first laid out as 'pleasure gardens'. [24]
Simeon Monument, Reading.jpg
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Simeon Monument Market Place

51°27′20″N0°58′10″W / 51.45561°N 0.9695°W / 51.45561; -0.9695
1804 John Soane Portland stone 25 feet (7.6 m) in heightAlso known as the Soane Obelisk, the Soane Monument and the Simeon Obelisk. Commissioned in his lifetime by Edward Simeon and with a triangular cross-section, it is technically neither a monument nor an obelisk, despite often being called both.
Space Between 2019-02-28 16.37.20.jpg
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Space BetweenForbury Road

51°27′27″N0°57′58″W / 51.457584°N 0.966101°W / 51.457584; -0.966101
Simon Hitchens Sculpture Granite 5 metres (16 ft) in heightTwin helical blocks of granite, carved from Chinese granite, situated outside new office blocks on Forbury Road opposite Forbury Gardens. [26]
Sumer Is Icumen In 2020-07-10.jpg
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Sumer Is Icumen In Reading Abbey

51°27′23″N0°57′54″W / 51.456404°N 0.965089°W / 51.456404; -0.965089
Relief Limestone Stone relief commemorating the composition of the early English song Sumer Is Icumen In at Reading Abbey in the 13th century. [27] [28]
University of Reading War Memorial.jpg
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University of Reading War Memorial London Road Campus of the University of Reading

51°27′01.6″N00°57′40.3″W / 51.450444°N 0.961194°W / 51.450444; -0.961194
1924 Herbert Maryon Clock tower Brick 60 feet (18 m) in height
2024-03-18 08.50.50-realign.jpg
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131 greetings Welcome to ReadingBrunel Arcade, Reading railway station

51°27′29.8″N0°58′17.4″W / 51.458278°N 0.971500°W / 51.458278; -0.971500
2023 Haya Sheffer Mural The mural presents the greeting Welcome to Reading in 131 different languages. [29]


Windsor

List of public art in Windsor
ImageTitle / subjectLocation and
coordinates
DateArtist / designerTypeMaterialDimensionsDesignationNotes
Jubilee Fountain on The Goswells, Windsor - geograph-3068893.jpg
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Diamond Jubilee FountainThe Goswells

51°29′03″N0°36′40″W / 51.484174°N 0.611072°W / 51.484174; -0.611072
2012 Fountain Celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012.
Statue of George III - The Copper Horse.jpg
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King George III
(The Copper Horse)
Windsor Great Park

51°26′42″N0°36′34″W / 51.445106°N 0.609313°W / 51.445106; -0.609313
1831 Richard Westmacott Statue Bronze Grade I An equestrian of statue of King George III that marks one end of the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park. It was commissioned by King George IV, sculpted by Sir Richard Westmacott and erected in October 1831. [30] [31]
Prince Consorts statue (geograph 3523199).jpg
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Prince Albert Windsor Great Park

51°25′25″N0°36′34″W / 51.42355°N 0.60932°W / 51.42355; -0.60932
Joseph Edgar Boehm Statue Grade II
Christian Victor monument - Windsor.jpg
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Prince Christian VictorThames Street

51°29′05″N0°36′24″W / 51.48462°N 0.6068°W / 51.48462; -0.6068
1903 Goscombe John Statue Grade II Commemorates the life of Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, a grand-son of Queen Victoria, who died in 1900.
Queen Elizabeth II statue - geograph.org.uk - 2671668.jpg
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Queen Elizabeth II Windsor Great Park

51°26′09″N0°37′39″W / 51.435950°N 0.627600°W / 51.435950; -0.627600
2003 Philip Jackson Equestrian statue Bronze
Queen Victoria Statue- Windsor Castle.jpg
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Queen VictoriaOutside Windsor Castle

51°28′57″N0°36′27″W / 51.482594°N 0.607501°W / 51.482594; -0.607501
1887 Joseph Edgar Boehm Statue Grade II [32]

References

  1. "Agenda for meeting on 24 June 2019". Newbury Town Council. 18 June 2019. p. 25. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  2. "Abbey Gateway Heads" (PDF). Potts VC Memorial Site. Potts VC Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  3. "Abbey Gateway Heads". Statues - Hither & Thither. René & Peter van der Krogt. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  4. "Interpretation of Ruins" (PDF). The Potts VC Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018..
  5. "Reading Mural Black History". University of Nottingham. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Fort, Hugh (3 November 2015). "Reading's artworks: What they are, who made them and what they represent". getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  7. "Storm Eunice: Man killed and two seriously injured". BBC News. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  8. "The Caversham Village Sign" (PDF). Caversham and District Residents Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  9. "Caversham War Memerial". Historic England. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  10. "Caversham War Memerial". Imperial War Museum. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  11. "The Statue of Edward Vii". BritishListedBuildings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  12. "Potts VC Memorial Site". The Potts VC Trust. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  13. "Gateway" (PDF). The Potts VC Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018..
  14. "Statue of George Palmer". BritishListedBuildings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  15. "Girl and The Swan" (PDF). The Potts VC Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018..
  16. "Hugh de Boves and Hugh of Faringdon Memorials". Statues - Hither & Thither. René & Peter van der Krogt. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  17. "Plaque to Hugh de Boves". Berkshire Sculpture Park. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  18. "Rededication of Reading memorial". International Brigade Memorial Trust. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  19. "Jubilee Fountain" (PDF). The Potts VC Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  20. "Oscar Wilde" (PDF). The Potts VC Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  21. Scott, Elizabeth (12 December 2024). "New Reading sculptures and murals installed at Station Hill". Reading Chronicle . Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  22. "Queen Victoria Jubilee Statue". BritishListedBuildings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  23. "Men of Reading and Berkshire". Imperial War Museum. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  24. 1 2 Fort, Hugh (9 November 2015). "Reading's statues: Part two of what the town's artwork represents and who they are". getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  25. "Lord Reading, Rufus Isaacs". Reading Borough Council. Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  26. "Chinese Granite for Reading". Simon Hitchens. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  27. Hilts, Carly (19 July 2018). "Review – Reading Abbey revealed". Current Archaeology. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  28. ""Sumer is icumen in"". Berkshire Sculpture Park. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  29. Clothier, Jake (16 January 2023). "GWR, Network Rail, and Samaritans join forces to bust "blue Monday" myth". RDG.TODAY. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  30. "Windsor Great Park". Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  31. "The Victorian Web". Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  32. "Statue of Queen Victoria 1887". Yale Centre for British Art. Retrieved 24 January 2021.