| Description | (In 1722-1729 the property comprised three messuages on the west side of London Street. Exemplification of common recovery, 1777, relates to messuages and land in Reading, Winnersh and Hurst. From 1814 the property comprised a single messuage built by Henry Willats on the site of the three 'ancient tenements', backing onto the Quakers' burial ground. In 1813-1828 it also included two messuages recently built at the rear of the property. Between 1828 and 1841 it is numbered 35 London Street; in 1850 it is referred to as 34 London Street; and in 1899 it is 70 London Street. Bundle includes copy wills of Samuel Due of Reading, tailor; 1722; William Gibbs of Reading, tallow chandler, 1729 (also devising five messuages on the west side of a passage from Minster Street to the Old Guildhall); Thomas Basden of Reading, vintner, 1757; Henry Willats of Reading, gentleman, 1806; and extract from the will of James Compigne of Holborn Hill, London, silk mercer, 1822. Also includes baptism, marriage and burial certificates of the Gibbs, Irwin and Basden families of Reading, 1736-1804 (most dated 1828); copy admon of Joseph Irving of Reading, 1753; bond of Thomas and Henry Willats of Reading, timber merchants, to pay an annuity to Anne Basden in lieu of investments settled on Henry and Anne's daughter Martha on their marriage, 1777; affidavit of Richard James, parish clerk of Reading St Mary and former parish clerk of Reading St Laurence, and formerly a brazier and tin plate worker in Reading, concerning his own history and that of the Basden family, 1828.) |