The incredible history of Reading's ruined Abbey has been revealed, containing some interesting facts people in the town may not know. 

The construction of the Abbey began in 1121 on the orders of King Henry I. 

The King decided to build the Abbey following the White Ship disaster.

The White Ship departed from England to travel to Normandy with William Adelin, his only legitimate son and heir on board, along with many other nobles.

The ship was sunk after hitting a rock near Barfleur, killing all but a lowly butcher. 

King Henry was stricken with grief at the news of the deaths within his family, and had a vision of a great Abbey where prayers could be held for the deceased souls of his relatives.

A site for the Abbey was chosen between the Thames and Kennet rivers. Reading already had two great religious sites, Reading Minster and The Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham. 

The Abbey was populated by Cluniac monks, who followed a strict interpretation of the Benedictine rule from their original abbey at Cluny in France. 

The first abbot of Reading was Hugh of Amiens, a Frenchman, who took the leadership in 1123.

Reading Chronicle: A commemoration of Hugh of Amiens, also known as 'de Boves' the first Abbot of Reading.A commemoration of Hugh of Amiens, also known as 'de Boves' the first Abbot of Reading. (Image: Reading Chronicle staff)

King Henry died in 1135 and never saw the Abbey fully built, but he was buried there, where the monks would pray for his soul. 

Others buried in the Abbey were William, his great-grandson, who died in infancy and was interred at the feet of the King, and the King's second wife Adeliza who died in 1151. 

The Abbey was finally completed and it was consecrated in 1164 by Thomas Becket, then Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Its presence transformed Reading from a small market town into a religious centre of Western Europe. Reading and Caversham at the time were recognised as a centre of pilgrimage. 

The Abbey was thought to have 230 holy relics including one of Jesus Christ's sandals and a hair of the Virgin Mary. It also held two hands of St James the Great, and a relic of St Anastasia, who was martyred in 304. 

Pilgrims flocked to Reading in their thousands throughout the ages. 

Reading Chronicle: A commemoration of the martyrdom of Blessed Hugh Faringdon, the last Abbot of Reading.A commemoration of the martyrdom of Blessed Hugh Faringdon, the last Abbot of Reading. (Image: Reading Chronicle staff)

But these burial places and relics were either lost or destroyed following the closure of The Abbey in 1537 and its demolition in 1538. 

The last abbot, Hugh Faringdon, was hung drawn and quartered outside the Abbey gateway along with monks John Eynon and John Rugg on November 14, 1539.

This article was written by historian Colin Describe and edited by Reading Chronicle staff.