By the end of the 18th century, new industries were growing in Reading. In 1785 Simmonds brewery opened in Broad Street and brewing became a major industry in the 19th century. At the time of the first census in 1801 Reading had a population of just under 10,000. In 1807 John Sutton, a corn and seed merchant founded Suttons Seeds.
In 1822 Joseph Huntley opened a biscuit bakery. Huntley and Palmer later became an important employer in the town, with more than 5,000 employees. So Reading became known as the town of three Bs, bulbs, biscuits and breweries.
