At the time of the dissolution, the town of Reading was administered from a known as the "Yield Hall", situated beside the River Kennet close to today's "Yield Hall Lane". However, by the middle of the 16th century this had proved too small. The mayor, along with Thomas Vachell of Coley Park, petitioned the king to grant the nave and aisles of the church for use as a town hall. In 1543, this petition was granted. The remainder of the church and friary, together with the adjoining grounds, were sold to Robert Stanshawe, after whom the nearby "Stanshawe Road" is named.