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Hi Coreen,
Actually there were 2 John Reading/Reddings at that time.
The John Redding who married Mary Franklin lived up at Hawridge which is out of Chesham and up the hill (Chilterns).
I have come across a couple of folk who have tried to what I might describe as "highjack" our John Reading by avowing he married Mary, however, there are several hundred ( no exaggeration) of folk descended from Joseph Redding and Elizabeth Puddephatt who accept John married Margaret.
John adopted the spelling Reading which this branch of the family has firmly adhered to ever since, whereas what seems like the majority preferred Redding.
My great grandfather (grandson of John & Margaret Reading) left Chesham for London as a young man and the family eventually emigrated to NZ, Australia & Canada. A few years ago I moved back to the UK and am now living 20 minutes away from Chesham and have a better appreciation of the geography involved.
There are very extensive pedigrees for Reading & Puddephatt and various maternal lines on Ancestry which are being researched to ensure legitimacy. As I am sure you are aware, there is a lunatic fringe who tag on any likely individual. I have even found children with birth dates preceding their parents' dates.
Good luck

Thank you Phil.
This looks as if it is probably the right institution.
The town is listed as Chingford and the sub registration district is Chigwell.
Only one thing that isn't quite right is that the superintendant's mames are given as Helen Maud Steers. The initials are the same and it looks too close to be a coincidence!
Ethel's family resided at a number of addresses in the East end of London which is where the receiving home was so that would seem to add up. The family fell on hard times at the turn of the century when there aeems to have been a recession. Ethel's mother was a furrier and her father a cabinet maker/joiner but both became unemployed.
Regards, Janet