Broad Street Independent Chapel, Reading

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The frontage building on Broad Street
The frontage building on Broad Street
The interior of the 1707 chapel
The interior of the 1707 chapel

Waterstone's, Broad Street, Reading is a branch of the Waterstone's chain of bookshops, 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.[1]

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.

The building is a Grade II listed building.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Display on the history of the chapel, as displayed in-store on 2005-04-13
  2. ^ Images of England - Congretional Church, Broad Street, Reading. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-12-24.



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