Wantage Hall
| Wantage Hall | |
|---|---|
 Clock tower with arched entrance | |
  Location within Reading | |
| General information | |
| Status | Grade II listed[1] |
| Type | Hall of residence |
| Architectural style | Neo-Tudor |
| Address | Upper Redlands Road, Reading, Berks RG1 5JG |
| Town or city | Reading, Berkshire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°26′42″N 0°57′20″E / 51.4449°N 0.9556°ECoordinates: 51°26′42″N 0°57′20″E / 51.4449°N 0.9556°E |
| Construction started | 1906 |
| Owner | University of Reading |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | red brick, English bond |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Charles Steward Smith |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Wantage Hall, built 1908, is the oldest hall of residence at the University of Reading, in Reading, Berkshire, England. The hall is one of 13 belonging to the University and is close to Whiteknights Campus. It is thought to be the first student accommodation to have been purpose-built in England[2] outside Oxford and Cambridge.[1]
History
Wantage Hall was built in 1906–1908 by Lady Harriet Wantage in memory of her husband Lord Robert Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage, and was the first residential hall of the University, at that time an extension college of Christ Church, Oxford.[1] It was laid out as a quadrangle and built in Neo-Tudor style in red brick with stone details. In 1970 an extension of little architectural interest was built to the north, also in red brick. This was called "New Court", and the original structure became "Old Court".[1]
Use
The hall provides fully catered residential accommodation for about 245 students.[1]
Wantage Hall was used by the No 1 School of Military Aeronautics during the First World War for training flight instructors, cadet pilots and observers. During World War II, it was the headquarters of RAF Reserve Command.[1][3][4]
Scenes in Private's Progress (1956), with Ian Carmichael and Richard Attenborough, were filmed there.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 English Heritage (2008). "Wantage Hall, Reading". British Listed Buildings.
- ↑ Aberdare Hall in Cardiff (formerly University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, now Cardiff University) would appear to predate it.
- ↑ Ashworth, Chris (1990). Action Stations: Military airfields of the Central South and South-East. Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 245. ISBN 1852603763.
- ↑ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - RAF Home Commands formed between 1939 - 1957
Media related to Wantage Hall at Wikimedia Commons
| People |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Campuses | ||
| Facilities | ||
| Museums | ||
| Buildings | ||
| ||
