Crowthorne
| Crowthorne | |
| Berkshire | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU841641 |
| Location: | 51°22’12"N, -0°47’31"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 6,711 (2001) |
| Post town: | Crowthorne |
| Postcode: | RG45 |
| Dialling code: | 01344 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Bracknell Forest |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Bracknell |
Crowthorne is a large village in south-eastern Berkshire. It has a population of 6,711.[1] Crowthorne is best known for Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England, which lies in the village.
History
The village was only a small hamlet until Wellington College was opened to educate sons of British Army officers in 1859, followed by Broadmoor in 1863. Crowthorne railway station, originally known as Wellington College for Crowthorne station, was opened in 1860, and the village grew quickly. In the 1960s, the Transport Research Laboratory opened in Crowthorne, and this is now the main employer for those who do not commute.
The Crowthorne urban area spills over into the neighbouring parish of Wokingham Without (which consists of an area surrounding the town of Wokingham on its south-eastern side: the name is from that of the church parish encompassing a detached part of [[Wiltshire]; hence Wokingham outside ("without") Berkshire, which the town was ‘within’ Berkshire.)[2]
Edgbarrow Woods are between Sandhurst and Crowthorne.
Big Society
The Crowthorne Natural History Society was founded in 1968.
Crowthorne holds a biennial carnival, usually taking place in early July. The Carnival as a whole is organised by the Crowthorne Carnival Association, but individual events can be organised by local schools, groups and businesses.[3] These events helped Crowthorne to be awarded "2nd best town in Europe" in 2008.
The Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society was founded in 1978.[4]
The Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra is based in the village. The orchestra gives three concerts a year, usually at Wellington College, and also holds an open workshop for full orchestra in September and a string workshop in May.
Sport
- Cricket: Crowthorne Cricket Club, which plays its home games in the grounds of Wellington College
- Golf: Crowthorne Golf Society, founded in 2010.
The Walter Recreation Ground and Circle Hill on Pinewood Avenue has been designated a Queen Elizabeth II Field.
Pinewood
North of Crowthorne is Pinewood which has a leisure centre,[5] café[6] and miniature railway.[7]
Outside links
References
- ↑ Office for National Statistics: Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Bracknell Forest Retrieved 3 November 2010
- ↑ "Wokingham Without". Wokingham Borough Council. http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/communities/statistics/the-borough/wokingham-without/. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ↑ Crowthorne Carnival
- ↑ "Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society". Catswebsite.co.uk. http://www.catswebsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ↑ http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/sports/sportscentres/
- ↑ "Places to eat in Crowthorne, places to eat in Bracknell, places to eat in Wokingham". Pinewoodbarandcafe.co.uk. http://www.pinewoodbarandcafe.co.uk/. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ↑ "Home Page for the Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway". Pinewoodrailway.co.uk. http://www.pinewoodrailway.co.uk/. Retrieved 2013-03-13.