History Of Bridges

History

Bridges is named after a late Chancellor of Reading University, Edward Ettingdene Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges, KG, GCB, GCVO, PC, MC. The most impressive of his occupations before becoming University Chancellor was his time spent as Cabinet Secretary (1938-1946) serving under both Chamberlain and Churchill. A portrait of Lord Bridges still hangs in the dining room directly above High Table.

In 1960 the first stage in the construction of Bridges Hall began. This was, in fact, the demolition of Maiden Erleigh House. Physical construction of Bridges began in 1964/65. The academic year 1966/67 saw the first students accommodated in Bridges and its sister and rival hall, Childs. Wessex Hall, which neighbours Bridges, has also been one of the most iconic rivalries and remains strong today.

Bridges started its life as a female-only hall. Conversely, Childs began as a male-only hall. Both have since become mixed.

Also, as you can see in the picture on the left, it was not always as large as it is now. New Wing, which added 156 bedrooms for self-catered students, was opened in the academic year 1971/72. This expansion coincided with a similar project at Childs. During this project, Childs ended up with two extra rooms to Bridges.

During the last 43 years, Bridges has had four Wardens. The first was the long lasting Mrs. Fuller who served from the Hall's opening in 1966 until her retirement in 1996. The Walled Garden at the front of the Hall and Reading Room were both named in her honour. Her successor was Mrs. Alison, who served from 1996-2000. Dr. Davis, known to many as 'Uncle Fred', served for the period 2000-2006, bringing a touch of eccentricity to Hall functions. Rumour has it that he once presided over a formal meal in his dinner jacket accompanied by muddy walking boots!

The fourth and current Warden, Dr. Culham, previously served as Assistant Warden to Dr. Davis. He combines his voluntary role in Hall with a full-time teaching post in Plant Sciences. His hobbies include pedantry and JCR President Beating, in which he favours a rolled-up edition of the student newspaper Spark*.

 

Sadly, the era of Bridges Hall was brought to an end in 2010 as part of the University of Reading's redevelopment of the Whiteknights campus which will see the Hall closing at some time before the start of the 2010/11 academic year. In the Spring of 2010, a contraversial motion was presented at a General Meeting of the JCR that would involve relocating and rebranding at the new Stenton Hall, which is being built next to sister hall, and rival, Childs Hall and has been dubbed as "the ultimate victory" over a rival hall. The existing JCR are currently seeing out the end of the year and overseeing the closure whilst training up the new Stenton JCR.

 

There are currently no plans to reopen the hall nor to demolish it and there are no plans to replace or renovate it due to current financial crisis. In the meantime, Stenton JCR will be taking all the spirit, knowledge and experience that has led Bridges over the years to be Reading's leading Common Room.

 

Authored by Bridges Hall JCR 2005-2010