Forbury Gardens is a public park in the centre of Reading, a large market town in the English county of Berkshire. The gardens occupy the area once used as the outer court — historically referred to as the Forbury — of the medieval Reading Abbey, and have since become an important urban green space combining formal planting with open lawns and paved paths.
Layout and notable features
The Gardens are laid out in a Victorian formal style with tree-lined promenades, flower beds, seating and a small bandstand. A prominent sculptural feature is the Maiwand Lion, a large stone war memorial commemorating local soldiers who fell serving with a county regiment. The site also benefits from views across to the remains of Reading Abbey and is framed by surrounding civic buildings and thoroughfares.
History and development
The name "Forbury" derives from the area’s medieval function as the outer precinct of the abbey. For centuries the open space was used for fairs and public gatherings; organized fairs were recorded there several times a year until the 19th century. During the 19th century the grounds were transformed into landscaped gardens as part of a wider Victorian movement to create public parks in towns and cities.
Uses, events and community role
Today Forbury Gardens is used for informal recreation, small public performances and community events. Its central location makes it a popular meeting place for office workers at lunchtime, for local residents and for visitors exploring the historic heart of Reading. Conservation of planting and maintenance of memorial features remain priorities for local authorities and volunteer groups.
Recent notable events
The gardens have also been the scene of a tragic event: on 20 June 2020 a mass stabbing in the park resulted in multiple deaths and serious injuries. The incident received national attention and was investigated as a terrorist-related attack; contemporary reporting and official statements provide details and context for the enquiry and its aftermath (see reports).
- Location: central Reading, adjacent to historic abbey precinct.
- Character: formal Victorian garden with memorial sculpture and lawns.
- Role: public recreation, commemorations and local events.
Forbury Gardens remains a compact but historically layered urban park: a place of daily leisure, a setting for remembrance, and a fragment of the medieval landscape repurposed for contemporary civic life.