Reading/Wallingford model shops?

[Pete236]

Morning all.

Just wondering if anyone knows of a model shop in the Reading/Wallingford area?

Henley Model Miniatures seems to have gone, as has Hobbystores down the Oxford Road.
Is Hobbycraft really the only place?

Cheers!
Pete.

[iggie]

I've not been in the Reading area for some years now Pete so can't help. I expect it has gone the same way as most localities seem to have, and lost the specialist little shops that are actually fast becoming the life-blood of High Streets all over to keep people coming in from the outskirts as the big stores rely more and more on internet sales.

In my day, I could walk around the corner to the local newsagents and buy series 1 and 2 Airfix kits, and sometimes even the big (huge to me back then!) 1/24th Spitfire would be up on the high shelf (out of reach from grubby paws!) to tempt me I did get one in the end, and I have another in the stash to do again sometime!

In town, there used to be a fantastic model shop under Chatham Street car park; it did railways, R/C and kits and was staffed by blokes who built and 'played' with them. The Doll's Hospital (at the bottom of St Mary's Butts) stocked kits, as did Heelas, WH Smiths, The CO-OP and another place in Broad Street that I cannot recall now. I remember the shop in the Oxford Rd too; not often visited by me (it wasn't on the bus route to/from School) but worth a longish walk from time to time. Tools, bits of wire, plastic card and all sorts of useful stuff could be got from 'The Shop on the Bridge', which was down the King's Road over the Kennet.

[Pete236]

I've not been in the Reading area for some years now Pete so can't help. I expect it has gone the same way as most localities seem to have, and lost the specialist little shops that are actually fast becoming the life-blood of High Streets all over to keep people coming in from the outskirts as the big stores rely more and more on internet sales.

In my day, I could walk around the corner to the local newsagents and buy series 1 and 2 Airfix kits, and sometimes even the big (huge to me back then!) 1/24th Spitfire would be up on the high shelf (out of reach from grubby paws!) to tempt me I did get one in the end, and I have another in the stash to do again sometime!

In town, there used to be a fantastic model shop under Chatham Street car park; it did railways, R/C and kits and was staffed by blokes who built and 'played' with them. The Doll's Hospital (at the bottom of St Mary's Butts) stocked kits, as did Heelas, WH Smiths, The CO-OP and another place in Broad Street that I cannot recall now. I remember the shop in the Oxford Rd too; not often visited by me (it wasn't on the bus route to/from School) but worth a longish walk from time to time. Tools, bits of wire, plastic card and all sorts of useful stuff could be got from 'The Shop on the Bridge', which was down the King's Road over the Kennet.

That sounds rather like heaven! That was the Reading my Dad knew (born and raised in Beresford Road) and I just about remember the Doll's Hospital and one in Broad Street.
The Shop on the Bridge held on for the longest, but I'm fairly sure that's gone now as well.

I've now found that there is nothing worthwhile in Reading, Henely, Bracknell or Maidenhead. I did see something in Windsor, but I might have to make a trip to Bourne End - if they are still there!

[bugatti fan]

It was Reading Model Supplies under Chatham Street car park. They were in Hosier Steet off At Mary's Butts before that area was bulldozed and 're deve!op-ed all the way back to Howard Street. There was Hills in Broad Street selling kits and toys upstairs. Also Sleeps in Kings Road also bulldozed and 're development. There was a model railway specialist EAMES on the Station Approach as well.

[iggie]

It was Reading Model Supplies under Chatham Street car park. They were in Hosier Steet off At Mary's Butts before that area was bulldozed and 're deve!op-ed all the way back to Howard Street. There was Hills in Broad Street selling kits and toys upstairs. Also Sleeps in Kings Road also bulldozed and 're development. There was a model railway specialist EAMES on the Station Approach as well.

Oh Yes! I remember all of those! Sleeps had a red painted frontage I think and Eames was our Mecca for railway items.
Were/are you a local?

[bugatti fan]

Jim, if you are reading this thread again nearly 2 years on from my last input.
I do come from Reading but have lived in Mid Bedfordshire since 1973.
I lost track of the model shop scene in Reading way back.
Reading Model Supplies under Chatham St. car park .....Stan Birch and his colleague Jerry were very knowledgeable. Their very first shop before the Hosier Street on was right on the bend opposite St Lawrence's Church looking down the road to the Forbury Gardens. Another friend that I used to work with at Prestcold at Theale, Andy Farrell went to work with them back in 1972 or thereabouts. I don't know when they closed up Chatham Street, or or when Sleep's or Eames closed for that matter. After I left the Reading area I think that Beatties had shops in town and in Woodley before they went into administration.
Do you remember back when Heelas had a big model railway layout on the top floor that ran over the Christmas period each year? Happy memories
I lived in Newbury for about 4 years before moving to Bedfordshire and remember Hill's who had a shop in Broad Street, Reading also had a branch right by the bridge over the Kennet in Northbridge Street in Newbury. There was a good model shop named Trents in Newbury who's sign was almost a dead ringer for the Airfix logo but saying Trents instead of Airfix. There were a couple of guys who ran a very small shop from a terrace house in a side street near the station who specialised in figures. Cannot remember their names unfortunately, but they started up a Model Soldier Club at the time, and they were both involved in the Sealed Knot English Civil War re enactment organisation.
I used to visit Oxford frequently back in those days and there was a good model shop named Howes right in the middle of the City. There was also another model shop coming away from the city centre and across the bridge leading to the Cowley Road. I think it was named Oxford Model Centre and they always seemed to have kits that were a bit out of the ordinary in stock. Do not know if they are still around or not!

[iggie]

Most of the places you mention ring a bell, some louder than others. We had relatives in Newbury so got to visit Trent's on odd occasions (I do remember that sign now you mention it, and I think there might have been another branch somewhere...)
Oxford Model Centre was also known to me, but mostly Mail order for railway items, likewise Cheltenham Model Supplies.

[bugatti fan]

Iggie, before I moved up to Bedfordshire I was a member of the Berkshire Branch IPMS that met monthly at the Rugby Club at Sonning.
Did you ever go along to any of the meetings at Sonning?
Since I moved the branch split up a bit and became 3 separate ones, Thames Valley, Farnborough and the Earley Risers as far as I know.

[iggie]

Iggie, before I moved up to Bedfordshire I was a member of the Berkshire Branch IPMS that met monthly at the Rugby Club at Sonning.
Did you ever go along to any of the meetings at Sonning?
Since I moved the branch split up a bit and became 3 separate ones, Thames Valley, Farnborough and the Earley Risers as far as I know.

I've never been a member of any modelling club, but I do remember the rugby club at Sonning, even before they built the clubhouse! We used to cycle from Woodley over the A4 and down into Sonning past their playing field