Page 207 - Reading Mercury

The works are, according to plans, approved by eminent engineers, and will be
managed on such a principle as to prevent their being in any way a nuisance to
persons living in their vicinity.
Mr. R.P. Spiec, of Fakenham, Norfolk, is the contractor, and it is expected that the
works will be completed and the town lighted by next Christmas.

th
Sat 7 Nov
WOKINGHAM
On Saturday evening last, as Mr. Read, of Easthampstead, was returning home from
Reading, on turning the corner of the road opposite the Star Inn, in this town, he was
accidently thrown from his cart. He was picked up in an insensible state and taken
from the Star, and promptly attended by Mr. Wheeler, surgeon, under whose care he
was sufficiently recovered to proceed home on the following day.

st
Sat 21 Nov
WOKINGHAM
th
On Friday, the 6 inst., a very interesting lecture was delivered in our Town Hall by
Mr. Sampson of London on the Air, the Air Pump, &c. The lecturer in a remarkably
clear and pleasing manner illustrated his subject as he proceeded with some
experiments with the air pump, an air balloon &c. The audience, which was large and
respectable, left much gratified. We understand this lecture is the first of a series to be
given during the winter months in connection with a plan in contemplation for
rendering the dull evenings in our country town instructive and amusing.

th
Sat 28 Nov
WOKINGHAM
th
On Thursday evening, the 19 inst., a lecture was given at our Town Hall by Mr.
G.B. Sampson (who visited us the week before), on the “Chemical Properties of the
Atmosphere. The subject was very clearly explained to an audience considerable
larger than was present at the first lecture, and at the conclusion the lecturer
announced that as a strong feeling existed in favour of an attempt to establish a
Literary and Mechanics Institution, if parties favourable to the object and desirous of
becoming members would signify the same to a committee which was nominated for
the purpose, an early day would be named for a meeting to elect officers and embody
the association, with a view to obtaining patronage and assistance from the resident
and neighbouring gentry. We trust the attempt will be met with the success it
deserves, as at present there is nothing of the sort in the town, and there surely be no
reason why Wokingham should not possess a Mechanics’ Institution as well as some
other towns near us with no larger population.

1847
th
Sat 6 Feb
The Reading Rooms of our Literary Institution were opened on Monday, and it is
most gratifying to find that our young men have now not only a comfortable place of
evening resort, but also about 500 volumes of interesting works to peruse. We cannot
but hope that such a desideratum will prosper, and that although there are already
between 80 and 90 members, many more who have hitherto feared the establishment
of such an institution to be an impossibility, will come forward and lend their willing
aid in support of that, which cannot injure anyone, but which probably will benefit
many.

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