The gardens as we see them today were laid out in the 19th century, the eastern part first and then the lawns to the west. Suttons played a large part in supplying and the laying out and planning of the space. John Sutton and his brother came to Reading after being apprenticed to a miller in London to manage the family mill/s c.1800. John set up shop at 13 King Street as a corn factor and miller, selling flour, agricultural seeds, corn (wheat) and pasture seed. The firm’s premises came to dominate this area of Reading and it had its garage and north goods entrance here on the Forbury. The main shop entrance was eventually in Market Place.
