A Trip Around the IDR - Before and After

This is a film orginally made by Doug Noyes, showing the areas of central Reading before and after the construction of the Inner Distributor Road (IDR). It uses photographs from Doug's collection with a few additional images taken in more recent years by his daughter Lyn. Doug provides the commentary.
The complete film lasts just over one hour and it provides a unique record of the houses, shops, streets, communities and townscape that were destroyed or significantly changed as part of the construction process which took place between 1968-1972.

[@willsrpi]

Thanks for sharing this! I was born 30 odd years ago in Reading, so I didn't know the town before the IDR, but love to investigate how the town used to be! This is gold dust.

[@simoneillger4403]

Myself and my partner - both in our 60's, are Reading born and bred. We really enjoyed watching this film and it brought back some great memories!

[@joedoak]

Glad that you enjoyed it. When I first saw this film (on Graham Turner’s laptop in The Castle Tap!) I knew it was a bit special!

[@ashleyknight358]

Great video, so sad to see such wonderful old buildings demolished

[@daveukmills]

What a fantastic video with quality knowledge with the different area's, its a big well done from me and many thanks for the memories

[@joedoak]

Cheers Dave. Glad you enjoyed it. We always felt that the history of Coley deserved its own spot on KZbin and we were more than happy to put these videos together.

[@jamesavenell1205]

Oh yes, good memories, the changing hub of Reading. I was born there during 1938, most familiar with the town centre. I resided down near Caversham Bridge & walked into town on more occasions than I thought of keeping count. I moved to between Guildford & Aldershot on marriage during 1966 but continued to work in Reading until the early 1980s. During that time I was often in the town & caught up with those changes during that period, After that, rather less, although I would shoot through on Saturdays, to & from dear old Elm Park to the station. I shall always remember it with great affection. My home town.

[@jonathanware1964]

Really interesting video as someone who grew up in Reading. Thanks! 👍🏼

[@mileschurch67]

Truly myopic Town planning.

[@leighallerton3117]

Really Great Video! So interesting of how Reading use to be. You would have no idea where old buildings use to be when walking or driving through. Fascinating.

[@MsOrangesmarties]

A fabulous video. Thanks for sharing

[@markamusprimetime]

Fascinating. I lived in Henry Street.

[@CanYourHorseDoAFuckinWheeley]

What a fabulous history of Reading, and what was lost with the development of the IDR, I wonder what traffic would be like without the IDR?

[@mqb5151]

Precious pics and history. Thanks so much. Do y have any pics of cemetery junction and it's surrounding area

[@joedoak]

Nothing on these videos. However, plenty of photos of Cemetery Junction area on relevant Facebook groups (Old Reading Plus and New & Old Reading). There’s also a Newtown Residents Group on Fb, which might have some as well.

[@mericet39]

The 60s was a time of shameless vandalism.

[@alexc8209]

I lived in the yuppie flats at Dukes Bridge court in the 80s and I remember them demolishing tall houses opposite my home and seeing the old wall paper and where the stairs were etc. they made office blocks there. I also remember them building the Library on Kings road and there was an archaeological dig on the site of one of the big office blocks down the road at that time. We went down to see it coz they had found an Anglo Saxon era man who had been stabbed in the back, the knife still broken off in his spine. apparently they said he had been under a small bridge in his day so either he was killed there or dumped there. a 1000+ year old murder on the Kings road! I haven't lived in Reading for about 20 years but I was back there last year and what a shock the Train station area is. wtf is that all about? those massive concrete steps or whatever. So cold and windy. Anyway most of my reading family and friends are dead or moved away now so i guess it doesnt matter.

[@joedoak]

Thanks for your memories and reflections Alex. Shock & awe are often the reactions for returning locals, but behind the high-rise offices and apartments some very nice (often old) parts of Reading are waiting to be found. Keep the faith!