Middle section of St Mary's Butts

3.4  St Mary's Church, Reading Minster
The distinctive chequered pattern of St Mary's church dominates the St Mary's Butts area, where the original Saxon town of Reading developed.
The church occupies the site of a nunnery founded in the year 998. Following the dissolution of Reading Abbey in 1539, St Mary's was extensively
restored using material from the Abbey: this is described on the photo of the nearby Abbey Quarter Interpretation Panel.
Detailed information about the Minster can be found in British History Online/Victoria County History.

Memorial on the South wall, the only memorial on the outside of the church. It was restored in 2009 with funding raised by Reading Civic Society.
There are articles on the internet about the events which the memorial refers to - search on "Laurenthes Braag", and for information about
St Croix at that time, search on "Danish West Indies".

Abbey Quarter Interpretation Panel, Chain St.

3.5  Jubilee Cross
The Jubilee Cross was constructed in 1887 not only to celebrate the 50th year of Queen Victoria's reign, but also to mark the regeneration
of the area around St Mary's Butts. This work was funded by Isaac Harrinson who lived in Castle St. nearby.

The upper part of the Cross. Part of the inscription around it can be seen. The inscription reads in full "By Thy Cross and Passion Good Lord Deliver Us"

The base of the Jubilee Cross with dedication. The letters are missing, but the first three lines can be deciphered as:
"Erected / by public subscription to record the munificence of / Isaac Harrinson Esq."

3.6  Jubilee Fountain
Built to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria in 1887, designed by G.W.Webb. The full inscription reads:
"Erected on the Completion of the 50th Year of the Reign of Queen Victoria 1887"

One of the gargoyles, a little weather-beaten. The gargoyles would have been water-spouts when the structure was operational as a fountain.

Summary page for Map 3    .  .   Next: South section of St Mary's Butts