Reading Crown Court
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name =Reading Crown Court
| native_name =
| image = Reading Crown Court, April 2025.jpg
| caption =
| locmapin =Berkshire
| map_caption =
| coordinates ={{coord|51.4562|-0.967|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| location =Reading, Berkshire
| area =
| built =1861
| architect =John Clacy
| architecture =Baroque revival style
| governing_body =
| designation1 =Grade II Listed Building
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_date =14 December 1978
| designation1_number =1113476
}}
Reading Crown Court is a judicial facility in Reading, Berkshire. It is a Grade II listed building.{{National Heritage List for England|num=1113476|desc=Assize Courts, Reading|accessdate=13 August 2019}}
History
The building, which was designed by the county surveyor, John Clacy, in the Baroque revival style and built at a cost of £21,644, was completed in 1861.{{cite web|url=https://www.theartssocietywokingham.org.uk/DocumentStore/Hidden%20Reading%20notes.pdf|title=Victorian Architecture in Reading|publisher=The Arts Society Wokingham|date=3 April 2019|page=7|access-date=24 October 2020}} It became the main venue for the assizes from 1867 when Abingdon County Hall ceded that role to Reading.{{cite web|url=http://www.abingdon.gov.uk/history/buildings/county-hall|title=County Hall|publisher=Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society|access-date=18 August 2019}} The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto The Forbury with the end bays projected forward; the central section of five bays featured a three-bay portico with Doric order columns; there were round headed sash windows flanked by Ionic order columns on the first floor. The complex included the county police station which was built behind the courthouse.{{cite web|url=http://www.visitoruk.com/Reading/19th-century-T1544.html|title=Timeline History of Reading 1801 to 1900|publisher=Visitor UK|access-date=25 October 2020}}
Following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888, which established county councils in every county, it also became the meeting place for Berkshire County Council.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/51-52/41/enacted|title=Local Government Act 1888|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=17 August 2019}} The administrative staff and committee rooms of the county council were accommodated in the Shire Hall next door.{{cite web | title = From old Shire Hall to sheer class | url = http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2000531_from_old_shire_hall_to_sheer_class | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321195608/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2000531_from_old_shire_hall_to_sheer_class | archive-date = 21 March 2012 | publisher = Reading Post | date = 2 March 2006 | access-date = 19 January 2015}} Following the implementation of the Courts Act 1971, the former assizes court was re-designated Reading Crown Court.Courts Act 1971 (Commencement) Order 1971 (SI 1971/1151) In 1981 the county council moved to a new Shire Hall at Shinfield Park and subsequently it was used solely by the Crown Court.
Important cases heard by Reading Crown Court included the trial and conviction of Leslie Bailey for the murder of Mark Tildesley in December 1992{{cite news|title=Convicted paedophile jailed for raping and killing boy of 7|first=Bill|last=Frost|work=The Times|location=London|date=23 October 1992|page=3}} and the trial and conviction of Llewellyn Adams, Indrit Krasniqi, Michael Johnson, Jamaile Morally, Joshua Morally and Adrian Thomas for the murder of Mary-Ann Leneghan in March 2012.{{cite news |last1=Laville |first1=Sandra |title=Murder gang must serve 27 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/apr/29/ukcrime.sandralaville |access-date=23 June 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=28 April 2006}} It was also the venue for the Munir Hussain case, in which a businessman, Munir Hussain, was tried and convicted of assaulting a burglar, Walid Salem, in December 2009.{{Cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6956044.ece| location=London | work=The Times | title=Jail for courageous Munir Hussain who beat intruder with cricket bat | first=Adam | last=Sherwin | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604152810/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6956044.ece | access-date = 15 December 2009| archive-date=2011-06-04 }}
The initial stages of the trial of Jed Foster for the killing of Andrew Harper were also heard at Reading Crown Court in August 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/17850821.jed-foster-appears-reading-crown-court-charged-murder-pc-andrew-harper/|title=Jed Foster appears at Reading Crown Court charged with the murder of PC Andrew Harper|date=21 August 2019|publisher=Reading Chronicle|access-date=18 November 2020}} but on 19 September the Crown Prosecution Service said that they had discontinued the case against him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/cps-further-update-relation-investigation-pc-harpers-death|title=CPS further update in relation to the investigation into PC Harper's death; The Crown Prosecution Service|website=www.cps.gov.uk|date=19 September 2019|access-date=18 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/jed-foster-dropped-andrew-harper-16947927|title=Murder charge dropped against Jed Foster over PC Andrew Harper death|date=24 September 2019|publisher=Get Reading|access-date=18 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18606475.charges-dropped-jed-foster-pc-harper-trial/|title=Why charges were dropped against Jed Foster in PC Harper trial|date=24 July 2020|publisher=Oxford Mail|access-date=18 November 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Listed buildings in Reading}}
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Reading
Category:Crown Court buildings