page_title: Timeline of Reading, Berkshire
section_title: 18th century
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of Reading, Berkshire / Events / 18th century
caption_attribution_description: English: Reading Mercury (English newspaper) sign displayed in Reading Museum
context_page_description: The following is a timeline of the history of Reading, the county town of Berkshire in England.
context_section_description: 1707
  Presbyterian meeting house built in Broad Street.
  New wooden High Bridge erected over the River Kennet.
  1714 – Reading–Puntfield (Theale) turnpike trust authorised.
  1718–1723 – The River Kennet is made a navigation from High Bridge to Newbury by John Hore.
  1718 – Reading–Basingstoke turnpike trust authorised.
  1723 – 8 July: First newspaper in Reading, the Reading Mercury, is published.
  1724 – First known freemasonry meeting in Reading, at the Mitre Inn.
  1738 – Origin of the Blandy & Blandy solicitors' partnership.
  1748 – Reading, Pennsylvania, established, named after the Berkshire town.
  1763 – Reading–Wallingford turnpike trust authorised.
  1778 – c. May: First pound lock at Caversham Lock constructed by Thames Navigation Commission, replacing a flash lock.
  1782 – Green Coat school for girls established.
  1784 – Major Charles Marsack, lately an army officer in British India, buys Caversham Park from Earl Cadogan.
  1785
  25 July: 9-year-old Jane Austen (with her sister Cassandra) begins 18 month's attendance at Reading Ladies' Boarding School at the Abbey gateway.
  Simonds Brewery opened by William Blackall Simonds in Broad Street.
  1786 – Town Hall rebuilt; Compter Gate demolished.
  1788 – New stone High Bridge erected to a design by Robert Furze Brettingham across the River Kennet.
  1798 – St Mary's Church, Castle Street built by a secessionist congregation (façade 1840–1842).
caption: Reading Mercury sign
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