Whiteknights: from private landscape park to university campus

The expansion of British Universities in the post war period fuelled the demand for new sites, especially for campus universities. For the University of Reading ‘the acquisition of Whiteknights was the most important single event in the history of the University.’ Much time and energy has been put into the maintenance of the park. The question remains as to how successfully the historic landscape, dating back to the 18th century, has been preserved in the face of the various demands made upon it. Indeed the survival of the park, a mile from the centre of Reading, is a story in itself given that at various times it was widely regarded as one of the most valuable sites in southern England and ‘ripe for development’.

Dr Phillada Ballard is a historical consultant specialising in buildings, landscapes and gardens. Former curator at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, she has had a long involvement with the restoration of Joseph Chamberlain’s Highbury estate in Birmingham. She has written several books on landscapes, gardens and buildings of Birmingham. She lives in Reading and her interest in suburban landscapes led her to research the Whiteknights estate.