Horse Dealing in Reading
Horse dealing was an extremely important trade in town and country.
Discover how the well-known horse dealers of Reading in the 19th and early 20th centuries carried out their business, which could be quite lucrative. The last dealers in Reading were Oliver Dixon Ltd, of Crescent Road Repository at Mockbeggar Farm. They were rewarded with royal patronage and worldwide fame but were forced to give up their premises in 1941. Oliver Dixon was well known in Reading, mixing socially with Sol Joel, the Palmers, Arthur Hill, Vincent and Dick Francis of Emmbrook.
Find out more in this fascinating talk.
This is the second of three talks in the Lesser-Known Reading Talks Series. The other talks take place on 12th October and 7th December. You may book tickets for individual events or for all three talks in the series for a reduced price.
After the talk, tea/coffee and cake will be available (included in the price). Pre-booking is preferred, but you can pay on the door, if there are spaces available.
Image: A visit by the Queen of Spain to Oliver Dixon’s stables.
To book, scroll down.
Date
- Thu 09 Nov 2023
- Expired!
Time
- 14:00 - 15:30
Tickets
- £5.00
Location
- 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ
Organiser
-
The Centre - Berkshire FHS
-
Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk -
Website
https://dev.berksfhs.org/branches/
Speaker
-
Caroline Piller
Caroline moved to Reading to train and work as a teacher. Twelve years later, she discovered that her grandfather, a London horse dealer, had been born in the town and that he had done business with a Reading horse dealer called Oliver Dixon. Four years of intensive research finally led to the publication of a book “The Life and Times of Oliver Dixon: A Reading Horseman Remembered”. This local history tells the story of how a 10 year old Irish boy established a huge horse business empire at Mockbeggar Farm in Earley.
Caroline is a volunteer at the Museum of English Rural Life and Programme Secretary of The History of Reading Society.
