Crowthorne

Crowthorne

The shops in Duke's Ride near Crowthorne Station
Crowthorne
Crowthorne shown within Berkshire
Population 6,711 (2001)
6,902 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid reference SU841641
Civil parish
  • Crowthorne
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CROWTHORNE
Postcode district RG45
Dialling code 01344
Police Thames Valley
Fire Royal Berkshire
Ambulance South Central
EU Parliament South East England
UK Parliament

Crowthorne is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest district of south-eastern Berkshire. It had a population of 6,711 at the 2001 census,[2] increasing to 6,902 at the 2011 Census.[1] Crowthorne is best known for Wellington College, a large co-educational boarding and day independent school, which opened in 1859 and for Broadmoor Hospital, one of three maximum security psychiatric hospitals in England, which lies on the eastern periphery of the village.

History

The village was only a small hamlet until Wellington College was opened in 1859 and Broadmoor Hospital in 1863. Crowthorne railway station, originally known as Wellington College for Crowthorne station, was opened in 1860. The village grew quickly. In the 1960s, the Transport Research Laboratory established by the UK Government as the Road Research Laboratory (RRL) opened in Crowthorne, privatised in 1996.

At the 2001 census it had a population of 6,711,[3] increasing minimally to 6,902 at the 2011 Census.[1]

Human geography

Crowthorne is part of the Reading/Wokingham Urban Area. The Crowthorne urban area spills over into the neighbouring parish of Wokingham Without. The majority of Crowthorne is in the Bracknell Forest district.

North of Crowthorne is Pinewood which has a leisure centre,[4] cafe[5] and miniature railway.[6]

Nature reserves

Crowthorne has a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and local nature reserve on the north border of the village, called Heath Lake[7] There is also a SSSI to the south east of the village, called Sandhurst to Owlsmoor Bogs and Heaths, which includes a nature reserve called Wildmoor Heath [8][9]

To the south of the village and between Sandhurst there is a local nature reserve called Edgbarrow Woods.[10]

Schools

Crowthorne houses the Wellington College, a large co-educational boarding and day independent school, which opened in 1859 as a national monument in honour of the Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), who led British, Spanish and Portuguese forces in a succession of military victories in the Iberian Peninsula against more numerous opponents,[11]

There is one secondary school which covers the whole of Crowthorne, Edgbarrow. There are also five feeder schools; Hatch Ride Primary, New Scotland Hill, Crowthorne Church of England School, Wildmoor Heath (formerly Broadmoor Primary) and Oaklands Junior. There are a few pre-preparatory, preparatory schools, nurseries and child minders in the village accepting children ranging from 3 months to 11 years.

The company of C.F. Taylor, which grew into a large international aeronautical fabrications business, later part of British Aerospace, was born in a shed of the Buckler premises in Heath Hill Road, shortly after World War II. Metal craftsman C.F. Taylor single-handedly produced aluminium racing fairings for motorcycles and bodies for early Buckler cars.

Local societies and community groups

The Crowthorne Natural History Society was founded in 1968.

Crowthorne holds a biennial carnival, usually taking place in early July. The 2008 theme was Fun and Fantasy; the 2010 theme was Rhythm of Life, and the 2012 theme was Best of British. The winners of the best junior school float prize were Oaklands Junior school in 2010, and 2012. The Carnival as a whole is organised by the Crowthorne Carnival Association, but individual events can be organised by local schools, groups and businesses.[12]

The Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society was founded in 1978.[13]

The Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Roscoe, 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. The orchestra celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011.[14]

Crowthorne & Crown Wood Cricket Club was formed in January 2014 as an amalgamation of 2 existing clubs. The new club will play its home games in the grounds of Wellington College as well as Crown Wood's established base at St Sebastian's. The Club will be playing Saturday League Cricket in the Berkshire League and Sunday Friendlies. In 2013, Crowthorne CC fielded 2 Saturday teams for the first time as well as a Sunday Team and a Midweek T20 team whereas Crown Wood CC fielded 2 League teams and a youth setup. The 1st XI gained promotion from Division 2 in 2013 after winning the league in great style. The new club has 3 League teams, a Sunday Team and a Midweek team. Crown Wood's existing youth setup will continue under the umbrella of the merged club.[15]

Notable residents

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Office for National Statistics: Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Bracknell Forest Retrieved 3 November 2010
  3. ↑ Office for National Statistics: Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Bracknell Forest Retrieved 3 November 2010
  4. ↑ Wokingham Borough Council Leisure centres Archived 30 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine.. Wokingham.gov.uk (11 July 2013). Retrieved on 17 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Places to eat in Crowthorne, places to eat in Bracknell, places to eat in Wokingham". Pinewoodbarandcafe.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "Home Page for the Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway". Pinewoodrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Heathlake - Site of Special Scientific Interest - Wokingham Borough Council". Wokingham.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
  8. ↑ "Magic Map Application". Magic.defra.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  9. ↑ Opening Times. "Wildmoor Heath | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust". Bbowt.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  10. ↑ "Magic Map Application - Edgbarrow woods". Magic.defra.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  11. ↑ The Duke of Wellington: Soldiering to Glory. Author: Andrew Roberts (historian). Publisher: BBC History. Published: 17 February 2011. Retrieved: 5 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Carnival". Crowthornecarnival.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society". Catswebsite.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  14. ↑ "The Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra". Crowthorneorchestra.com. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  15. ↑ "Crowthorne CC". Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  16. ↑ Royal Academy Dictionary of Exhibitors: Summer Exhibition catalogue archives
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