Theme Week Berkshire – Lambourn

25 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  11 minutes

Ashdown House in Upper Lambourn © geograph.org.uk - David McManamon/cc-by-sa-2.0

Ashdown House in Upper Lambourn © geograph.org.uk – David McManamon/cc-by-sa-2.0

Lambourn is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It lies just north of the M4 Motorway between Swindon and Newbury, and borders Wiltshire to the west and Oxfordshire to the north. After Newmarket it is the largest centre of racehorse training in England, and is home to a rehabilitation centre for injured jockeys, an equine hospital, and several leading jockeys and trainers. To the north of the village are the prehistoric Seven Barrows and the nearby long barrow. In 2004 the Crow Down Hoard was found close to the village.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire – Slough

24 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  4 minutes

© alwye/cc-by-sa-4.0

© alwye/cc-by-sa-4.0

Slough is a town in the unitary authority of the same name in Berkshire, England, bordering Greater London. It lies in the Thames Valley, 20 miles (32 km) west of central London and 19 miles (31 km) north-east of Reading, at the intersection of the M4, M40 and M25 motorways. It is part of the historic county of Buckinghamshire. In 2020, the built-up area subdivision had an estimated population of 164,793. In 2011, the district had a population of 140,713.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire – Newbury

23 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Clock tower © TudorTulok/cc-by-sa-4.0

Clock tower © TudorTulok/cc-by-sa-4.0

Newbury is a market town in the county of Berkshire, England, and is home to the administrative headquarters of West Berkshire Council. The town centre around its large market square retains a rare medieval Cloth Hall, an adjoining half timbered granary, and the 15th-century St Nicolas Church, along with 17th- and 18th-century listed buildings. As well as being home to Newbury Racecourse, it is the headquarters of Vodafone and software company Micro Focus International. In the valley of the River Kennet, 26 mi (42 km) south of Oxford, 25 mi (40 km) north of Winchester, 27 mi (43 km) southeast of Swindon and 20 mi (32 km) west of Reading.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire – Hungerford

22 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Cottages at Leverton © geograph.org.uk - AJD/cc-by-sa-2.0

Cottages at Leverton © geograph.org.uk – AJD/cc-by-sa-2.0

Hungerford is a historic market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, 8 miles (13 km) west of Newbury, 9 miles (14 km) east of Marlborough, 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Salisbury and 60 miles (97 km) west of London. The Kennet and Avon Canal passes through the town alongside the River Dun, a major tributary of the River Kennet. The confluence with the Kennet is to the north of the centre whence canal and river both continue east. Amenities include schools, shops, cafés, restaurants, and facilities for the main national sports. Hungerford railway station is a minor stop on the Reading to Taunton Line.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire – Wokingham

21 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Town Hall © wx8

Town Hall © wx8

Wokingham is a market town in Berkshire, England, 37 miles (60 km) west of London, 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Reading, 8 miles (13 km) north of Camberley and 4 miles (6 km) west of Bracknell.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire

20 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Bon voyage, Theme Weeks Reading Time:  8 minutes

New College - Royal Military Academy Sandhurst © wyrdlight.com - Antony McCallum/cc-by-sa-4.0

New College – Royal Military Academy Sandhurst © wyrdlight.com – Antony McCallum/cc-by-sa-4.0

Berkshire is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berkshire in 1957 because of the presence of Windsor Castle, and letters patent were issued in 1974. Berkshire is a county of historic origin, a ceremonial county and a non-metropolitan county without a county council. The county town is Reading.   read more…

Dover Castle

22 November 2021 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Museums, Exhibitions, Palaces, Castles, Manors, Parks Reading Time:  11 minutes

Dover Castle © Chensiyuan/cc-by-sa-4.0

Dover Castle © Chensiyuan/cc-by-sa-4.0

Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England. It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the “Key to England” due to its defensive significance throughout history. Some sources say it is the largest castle in England, a title also claimed by Windsor Castle. This site may have been fortified with earthworks in the Iron Age or earlier, before the Romans invaded in AD 43. This is suggested on the basis of the unusual pattern of the earthworks which does not seem to be a perfect fit for the medieval castle. Excavations have provided evidence of Iron Age occupation within the locality of the castle, but it is not certain whether this is associated with the hillfort.   read more…

Eastbourne on the English Channel

20 January 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  8 minutes

Eastbourne Beach © geograph.org.uk - Oast House Archive/cc-by-2.0

Eastbourne Beach © geograph.org.uk – Oast House Archive/cc-by-2.0

Eastbourne is a large town, seaside resort, and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England, 17 miles (27 km) east of Brighton. Eastbourne is located immediately east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Great Britain and part of the South Downs National Park. With a seafront consisting largely of Victorian hotels, the pier, and a Napoleonic era fort and military museum, Eastbourne was developed by the Duke of Devonshire in 1800 from four separate hamlets. It has a growing population, a broad economic base, and is home to companies in a wide range of industries.   read more…

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