Reading Civic Society worked with Reading Borough Council and Reading Museum since summer 2024 to identify sources of funding to be able to commission a new commemorative plaque the mark Jane Austen’s time at school in Reading. The aim was to erect this during 2025 on the eastern wall of the Abbey Gateway to replace the incorrectly sited, inaccessible and almost illegible brass plaque which was in a locked garden behind the west side of the Abbey Gateway.
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen (1775-1817), one of our best known authors. Jane spent 18 months at Reading Ladies Boarding School in our town between the summer of 1785 and December 1786. The school Jane attended was attached to the East Side of the Abbey Gateway.
The overall cost of the project to design, build and mount the plaque on the Abbey Gateway, a designated Scheduled Ancient Monument, was projected at £7,500. Reading Borough Council were able to find £6,500 of funding from sources such as the Shared Prosperity Fund. Reading Civic Society, within 2 weeks, raised the balance way of donations from its members and other groups. Donors included The Abbey School, Friends of Reading Museum, Friends of Reading Abbey, History of Reading Society and several individual Society members.
The commemorative plaque was carved and installed by Cliveden Restoration; a company that has been involved in the restoration of many of the town’s statues and memorials. It is a circular stone plaque made from Forest of Dean sandstone situated within the gateway arch. The lettering is black.
The new plaque was erected at the end of March 2025. However it was not officially unveiled until 28 June before the start of Waterfest. The official “reveal” was undertaken by Deputy Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire , Lucy Zeal DL, and the Mayor of Reading Cllr Mpofu-Coles.
The overall design has been chosen to be fully reversible as it will be attached to a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The more common Historic England Blue Plaques need to have a section of brickwork carved out to allow them to be set in a wall whereas this plaque will be fixed by secret supports hammered into the mortar. Historic England have given their consent to the design and fixing.
If you’re interested in plaques in Reading, then you will want to see the new section on our website entitled Heritage & Plaques that provide details of all of the plaques around the town and their locations.