Earliest documented name
Redingas
Old English
"People of the Rea"
The name is believed to stem from the Saxon people who settled in the valley of the River Rea.
City history
The Chronological Legacy of Reading
From its Saxon roots along the River Rea to its evolution as a vital Great Western Railway hub, Reading represents a continuous tapestry of English history and industrial progress.
Chapter one
Name & etymology
Saxon Era
Redingas
People of the Rea
Refers to the tribal group associated with the local river.
Medieval to Present
Reading
N/A
The standardized English spelling used since the Middle Ages.
Chapter two
Timezone history
Current timezone
Europe/London
- Standard
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
- Daylight
- British Summer Time (BST)
1880 National Standardization of GMT
Reading adopted Greenwich Mean Time as the official standard following the UK's national implementation.
1916 Introduction of Summer Time
The Summer Time Act introduced daylight saving to the United Kingdom to conserve energy during wartime.
Chapter three
Timekeeping milestones
Domesday Book Entry Norman Era
Reading is formally recorded in the Domesday Book, documenting its status in medieval Berkshire.
Founding of Reading Abbey Royal Foundation
King Henry I established the Abbey, making Reading a major center of religious and political life.
Railway Connectivity Industrial Age
The arrival of the Great Western Railway transformed the town into a critical transport node.
Economic Modernization Tech Boom
Reading transitioned into a major center for technology and telecommunications industries.