The impressive ruins consists of the south transept (the arms that project at right angles from the church, forming a cross shape), the treasury, the chapter house (where the monks all met together), the dormitory and the refectory (the dining room). The chapter house is an impressive space and is the most complete room within the Abbey Ruins. It was a multi-purpose room that served as the meeting place for the community of monks at the Abbey. You can find out more about these areas with our on-site information panels or on our online map. The Ruins are protected as a Scheduled Monument and a Grade I listed building.
You can also see the mill arch nearby over the Holy Brook. This is the only remaining part of what was once the mill for Reading Abbey. The mill was in use until the twentieth century! You can find it just off Abbey Street, behind ‘The Blade’ office building.
A short stroll along Chestnut Walk is the Oscar Wilde Memorial walk in the shadow Reading Gaol's walls and a further 5 minutes along the towpath is our small Riverside Museum, open from April to October.
See our Venue Hire page if you are interested in the Ruins for your next outdoor event. The Abbey Ruins are also a fantastic filming location, please contact the Berkshire Film Office for more information.
