Reading Abbey

The People of Reading: Welfare

Passing to and from work through the West Gate under the watchful eye of the porter, the daily throng of paid employees from the town showed the relationship between themselves and the Abbey. Abbey and town were interdependent, relying on one another for well being, yet the Abbey always kept itself somewhat aloof and strove for overall command.

Above the West or Compter' Gate (so named from the mediaeval word for a prison), was the gaol where wrongdoers were locked up by the Abbot, who administered justice in the town. Butting onto the north side was the church of St Laurence, built by the Abbey to serve as the Parish Church for the people of the east of Reading. It was extensively rebuilt in 1196 and again in the fifteenth century. Its north aisle was used by those in the Abbey's old people's home to the north of the church. This almshouse looked after elderly men and women of the town, 13 of each, who had fallen on hard times in their old age. For those who were ill medical attention was available in the Abbey; a special leper hospital was run by the monks during the time when leprosy was common in Britain. Food, clothing and money was given to the needy by the monks. Reading was lucky in having the monastery as it provided the nearest thing to the welfare state that existed in the mediaeval world. Education was also encouraged by the monks, and when part of the Hospitium was closed a school was set up in the building in 1485, the Grammar School of King Henry VII, which developed into Reading School.

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