Ascot

Ascot
Berkshire
Royal carriages at Ascot racecourse
Location
Grid reference:	SU925685
Location:	51°24’30"N, -0°40’15"W
Data
Population:	11,603  (2001)
Post town:	ASCOT
Postcode:	SL5
Dialling code:	01344
Local Government
Council:	Windsor and Maidenhead
Parliamentary constituency:	Windsor

Ascot is a small town in eastern Berkshire. It is famed as the location of Ascot Racecourse, home of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. With the prestige of the racecourse and the convenient commuter location of the town, Ascot has become a very well-heeled town. It runs in a line along a broad High Street from the woods to the course and beyond into newer areas.

The racecourse, which is owned by Her Majesty, has shaped the town around itself, as it stands at one end of the High Street and all around are gallops, training grounds, stud farms and shops catering to horsemen and visitors.

Ascot today has three parts; itself and two suburbs; Ascot, North Ascot and South Ascot.

The town

The High Street

Much of Ascot's infrastructure is geared towards the racecourse, although there are general shops in the High Street, with the usual range of chain stores, many cafés and several boutique-styled shops. The High Street has its shops all on one side; the other is open land, much of it for horses

Most buildings are post-war with flats above the ground floor retail space. Heatherwood Hospital is at the western edge of the town.

Ascot has a station on the railway line from London's Waterloo station to Reading, Bagshot, Aldershot and Guildford, originally built by the London and South Western Railway. The frequent service on this line is used by Ascot's many commuters, commuting to London or Reading.

Royal Ascot week

The new grandstand at Royal Ascot

The centrepiece of Ascot's year is held in June: Royal Ascot is without doubt the world's most famous race meeting, steeped in history and dating back to 1711. The royal family attend the meeting, arriving each day in a horse-drawn carriage. It is a major event in the British social calendar. Although this has placed Ascot onto the British social map, it has many direct effects on the local community, not least of which are the associated traffic problems.

Economy

Ascot Racecourse employs over 70 full-time staff, which increases temporarily to 6,000 during Royal Ascot week. The village has a variety of businesses located at the Ascot Business Park, opened in 2008, including the UK headquarters of global toy manufacturer Jakks Pacific, in addition to numerous small and medium enterprises. The Chartered Institute of Building, a professional body for those working in the construction industry and built environment, is also based in Ascot.

Sport and leisure

• Racing: Ascot racecourse
• Football: Ascot United FC, who play at Ascot Racecourse.

Army Cadet Force

Ascot also has an Army Cadet Force unit, which is known as 4 Platoon Ascot. The unit is badged as Irish Guards (it belongs to A Company, Berkshire ACF; a company currently badged to the Household Division), which means that the unit regularly sees Irish Guards events such as the famed St Patrick's Day Parade, and even has the privilege of taking part in an Irish Guards ACF skills competition, run by the battalion. It parades at 19:15 until 21:30 on a Monday and Wednesday night at Licensed Victuallers' School and actively recruits from the local and surrounding area. The unit used to parade at Ascot Racecourse, however they were evicted due to an appeal made out by the Racecourse owners. They now temporarily parade at the Sixth Form centre inside the school.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Berkshire Ascot)

• Ascot Village Website
• Royal Berkshire History: Ascot
• Ascot Racecourse
• Royal Ascot
• Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: Ascot
• Photos of Ascot
• Ascot Volunteer Bureau (provides transport to medical appointments for the elderly)
• Ascot Blues Softball Club part of the Windsor Maidenhead Mixed Softball League