The Former Boots Building, Broad Street, Reading Historic Building Analysis

The Boots building at 90-93 Broad Street, Reading is made up from several buildings with frontages on both Broad Street and Chain Street. Boots had established itself on Broad Street by 1907 and gradually expanded, buying up and converting a number of premises adjoining the property. The present group of buildings includes two 19th century shops with a unified 1930s facade and an early 19th century block, with accommodation above a 19th century warehouse. The greater part of the building, however, consists of a massive modernist 1960s block which lies over earlier buildings, yards and gardens. The earlier buildings were incorporated into this block destroying much of the historic fabric.