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In the nineteenth century Reading developed three major industries, known as the 'Three Bs.' They were:

• biscuits
• beer
• bulbs

All three industries developed around Reading because:
• it was an important market town, which traded in goods produced on local farms
• it had very good links to London.

Biscuits were made from local wheat. Sugar was also used. This was imported and refined at the ports where it came into the country. London and Bristol both refined sugar, so it could be brought from either of those places. Some of the biscuits were sent for sale in London. Many more were sold to the army, which had large bases nearby - especially around Aldershot. Biscuits from Reading were then sent all over the British Empire, wherever soldiers were posted. In particular, many were sent to the army in India.

Beer was produced using malt made from locally grown barley. At first, Reading just produced the malt, and then sent it to breweries in London. Then, people who had made money from this trade invested it in setting up their own breweries, partly for the local market and partly to send for sale in London.

Bulbs for growing flowers were produced in Reading from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. (In fact the 'bulb' industry also produced flower seeds - but '3Bs' sounds better than '2Bs and an S'.) This industry first developed for local farmers and growers. There was a big demand for fresh vegetables and flowers in London, so market gardening was an important type of farming in this area. Once Reading developed a reputation for its seeds and bulbs, its market spread to cover the whole of the country.

Industry in Reading has changed in the late 20^th and early 21^st centuries. It is now one of the country's most important centres for the information and communication technology (ITC) industry. You should remember that the reasons for the location of this industry in and around Reading are very similar to those for the locations of industry here in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Nearness to London is still very important, and so too is the presence of a major transport route. In the earlier period the important routes were the Thames and the canals that linked to it. Later the railway became more important. Now it is the M4 motorway and easy access to Heathrow Airport which make Reading an important centre for industry.

1	In the 19^th century much of Reading's industry was situated in and around grid squares 7273 and 7172.
	(a)	Suggest why this was a good location for obtaining raw materials and sending out finished goods.	(4)
	(b)	What map evidence is there that this industry attracted a work force to live in Reading?	(4)

2	Much of the industry described in Question 1 has now closed down.
	(a)	Suggest why this was no longer a good site for industry in the second half of the 20^th century (see below for clues).		(4)
	(b)	When some of the old factories closed the area was redeveloped.
		(i)	What is the main piece of map evidence to show the type of redevelopment that took place in this area?	(1)
		(ii)	Suggest why this redevelopment was necessary.	(4)

3	The map below shows the motorway network around Reading - click on the map to make it larger.
	Large areas of the information and communication technology industry are found in Theale (around grid square 6471) and Whitley (grid squares 7171, 7170 and 7169). Suggest why each of these areas is a good location for the ICT industry. (If you are entered for the Foundation Level paper, look below for clues to help you.)	(8)

Imagine that a property developer has bought the land north of the railway next to the minor road in grid square 7474.
Explain why this might be a very attractive area for small businesses starting up in the ICT sector. Refer to accessibility, markets in the local area and beyond, the environment and the availability of a work force.

(8)

Clues

Question 2a
The original transport networks had declined in importance. This was not an easy location for new forms of transport.

Question 3
Use the following headings:
• Access to markets in this country
• Access to markets abroad
• Skilled labour force
• Attractive environment
• Room for expansion