Crowthorne
| Crowthorne | |
 The shops in Duke's Ride near Crowthorne Station |
|
  Crowthorne |
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| Population | 6,711 (2001) 6,902 (2011 Census)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SU841641 |
| Civil parish | Crowthorne |
| District | Bracknell Forest |
| Shire county | Berkshire |
| Region | South East |
| 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 | Bracknell |
Coordinates: 51°22′12″N 0°47′31″W / 51.370°N 0.792°W
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 as a national monument in honour of the Duke of Wellington (1769–1852), who led British forces in a succession of large-scale military victories against often better-armed opponents,[3] 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 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 opened in Crowthorne.
The Crowthorne urban area spills over into the neighbouring parish of Wokingham Without. The majority of Crowthorne is in the Bracknell Forest district. Edgbarrow Woods are between Sandhurst and Crowthorne.
Schools
There is one secondary school which covers the whole of Crowthorne, Edgbarrow School. 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.
Industry
Buckler sports and racing cars were manufactured in a factory in Heath Hill Road from circa 1949 to circa 1965, in premises also known as the "Welco Works", where Welco farm implements and machinery were manufactured alongside the cars until the early 1950s. In the early 1960s Buckler were also successful in manufacturing racing karts. The Buckler premises has now been redeveloped as Wellington Mews apartments.
The company of C.F.Taylor, which grew into a large international aeronautical fabrications empire, later part of British aerospace, was born in one shed of the Buckler premises in Heath Hill Road, shortly after World War II, where metal craftsman C.F.Taylor, single handed, 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.[4]
The Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society was founded in 1978.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
Pinewood
North of Crowthorne is Pinewood which has a leisure centre,[8] cafe[9] and miniature railway.[10]
Notable residents
- A. Duncan Carse, artist, 1931-1938[11]
- William Chester Minor, one of the largest contributors of quotations to the Oxford English Dictionary, circa 1872-1902
- Sir Anthony Seldon, headmaster of Wellington College, political author, 1953-2015
References
- 1 2 "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ↑ Office for National Statistics: Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Bracknell Forest Retrieved 3 November 2010
- ↑ The Duke of Wellington: Soldiering to Glory. Author: Andrew Roberts (historian). Publisher: BBC History. Published: 17 February 2011. Retrieved: 5 January 2014.
- ↑ "Carnival". Crowthornecarnival.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ↑ "Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society". Catswebsite.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ↑ "The Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra". Crowthorneorchestra.com. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ↑ "Crowthorne CC". Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- ↑ Wokingham Borough Council Leisure centres. Wokingham.gov.uk (11 July 2013). Retrieved on 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "Places to eat in Crowthorne, places to eat in Bracknell, places to eat in Wokingham". Pinewoodbarandcafe.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ↑ "Home Page for the Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway". Pinewoodrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ↑ Royal Academy Dictionary of Exhibitors: Summer Exhibition catalogue archives