Mural celebrates road's historic businesses

The sign replaces graffiti that had been on the side of Hampden Place for years

A mural celebrating the history of independent businesses has been painted on a busy street.

The hand-painted sign lists all the businesses that are thought to have occupied three buildings in Oxford Road, Reading, since 1829.

Past businesses registered to building numbers 139-141 include a motor company, grocers and takeaways.

The artwork, by Momo Signs, was commissioned by Reading Borough Council as part of its High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme, which aims to preserve the history of conservation areas.

The mural was hand-painted by Momo Signs

The row is now occupied by a kebab shop, which has been in place for 33 years, and a barbers, which opened in 2021.

Reading Borough Council said: “A new traditionally hand-painted sign of the names of shops that were historically know as Hampden Place is now complete at the Oxford Road end of Russell Street conservation area.

“The concept of the HSHAZ was to future-proof high streets by highlighting the heritage that is already there."

The national project was devised with Historic England in 2020, with Reading Borough Council receiving around £700,000 to fund community, cultural and conservation work.