From the White Man’s Grave to Cemetery Junction: the story of Mary Smart
Mary Smart was just 17 years old when she died in 1849 to become one of the earliest people buried at Reading’s London Road Cemetery. Who was this ‘pious African girl’, and why was she in Reading? Richard Stowell has unearthed the fascinating story of Mary’s brief life, the time she spent in England, and the family she left behind in West Africa.
This is the first of two talks in the Historic Reading Talks Series. The other talk takes place on 12th June. You may book tickets for either event individually or for both 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 – Reading London Road Cemetery – the area of the cemetery where Mary is buried.
To book, scroll down.
Date
- Thu 10 Apr 2025
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://berksfhs.org/branches/
Speaker
-
Richard Stowell
Richard spent three years living and working in Sierra Leone before coming to settle in Reading. On retiring, he studied for a Masters degree in history at Reading University and wrote an award-winning dissertation on the history of Sierra Leone.