Reading Temperance Tavern: The Rising Sun Arts Centre

Step inside our Grade II listed former Victorian Temperance Tavern for a short guided tour of our historic building and community gardens.
Experience short talks on the history of the site and it's current use as one of Reading's oldest community arts and live music venue.
Demonstration of the magic lantern which was the Victorian precursor to cinema and television and widely used to tell stories of drunkenness and temperance. Magic lantern slides were hand painted onto glass as miniature transparent paintings for projection. Later photographs could be made using models dramatically posing in studios.
Alternatives to beer and other alcoholic drinks were promoted by temperance movements and visitors will be offered samples of alternative drinks to taste. These and more conventional refreshments will be available to purchase at times during the day.
Industrialisation and rapid expansion of towns created big divisions of wealth in Reading. Charles Dickens wrote about the issue of drunkenness and also visited the literary institution to give readings a short walk north of our site. You can listen to his words.
"In the limelight" - an exhibition of Victorian and Edwardian magic lantern lamps. Oil, carbide, gas lamps, limelights, carbon arc lamps and projector bulbs.
There is no need to book as you can view the exhibition or take refreshments and performances will be repeated during the day.

Timings

Sunday 13 September:

10:00 to 17:00

Location & directions

30 Silver street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2ST

Directions:

Well served by many Bus routes from town centre Emerald 5 and 6 Claret 21 Bronze 11 Short walk from crown street southbound bus stop Bus routes into town disembark London street top Leopard 3 (from Wokingham) Buzz 9, 9a and 9b Little oranges 19a, 19b and 19c Claret 21 Route 92 Silver street is one way southbound off the A4 London road so emerald 5 and 6 will need to disembark at the mount or Crown Street. There is disabled parking and wheelchair step free access to the ground floor. If approaching from the south turn downhill into Kendrick Road from Christchurch Road. Left turn into London Road and left at Crown Street junction

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

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