Broad Street Independent Chapel, Reading
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Waterstone's, Broad Street, Reading is a branch of the Waterstone's chain of bookshops, located in the principal shopping street of Reading in England. The store is a sympathetic reuse of the former Broad Street Independent Chapel.
The main building was built in 1707 and comprises a two-storey high galleried room surmounted by a domed ceiling, set back from Broad Street. Later additions were made to the side and rear of the building. In 1892 a separate frontage building was built along the building line of Broad Street, with arched access to the chapel flanked by two shops.
Waterstone's now occupies both the chapel building and most of the frontage building (one shop unit being independently occupied). The frontage building has been linked to the main chapel by a lightweight modern glass-roofed conservatory. The galleries of the main chapel now form part of the shop, with a sweeping staircase in the centre linking the two floors.
[edit] Sources
- Display on the history of the chapel, as displayed in-store on 13 April 2005.