A Short History of Crowthorne
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A short history of Crowthorne In the 1850's, Crowthorne was a hamlet with a dozen dwellings. A map of the area early in the 19th century shows a triangle of three villages – Oakingham, Bracknel and Blackwater, but within this – no sign of Crowthorne. Then a couple of unrelated events happened that changed things dramatically. In 1859, Wellington College opened its doors for the first time: in 1863 the Broadmoor Asylum closed its doors on its first inmates. These two institutions were to alter Crowthorne beyond recognition over the next twenty years. Queen Victoria laid the foundation of Wellington College, as a school and home for orphaned sons of British Officers, in memory of the Duke of Wellington. Starting modestly, with 59 boys, by the end of the century it boasted: "Grounds of 430 acres, 20 acres turfed as playing fields. Four artificial lakes for bathing and skating. The attached Cadet Corps of the 1st Volunteer battalion. The nearby Wellington Hotel, erected principally for the use of friends of youths at the college." A hundred years later, girls were belatedly allowed to join (in the sixth form). Originally known as Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, the hospital's site was chosen (rather ironically) for its remoteness and sparse population. The estate included 14 acres for men, 3.5 for women and 170 acres of farmland. In the first 7 years there were 15 escapes, so in 1879 the walls were raised to 16 feet. In 1877 there were 481 inmates – reasons including: 338 for murder 34 for arson 21 for larceny 19 for burglary 19 for insubordination (all soldiers) The Mental Health Act which came into operation in 1960 changed the name to Broadmoor Hospital, making it into a special hospital for psychiatric patients "of dangerous, violent or criminal propensities", its role being to treat these patients, not just confine them. These two large institutions caused a sudden need for housing, shops, traders and services – and Crowthorne was mid-way between the two. And suddenly the hamlet was no longer in the middle of nowhere – with a grant of £500 from the College a railway station was opened in 1860 (initially called 'Wellington College for Crowthorne') running to Reading in the west and Guildford in the east. It must have been widely advertised that there was an up and coming prosperous new village, bringing new opportunities, for the first residents hailed from far and wide. By 1880 the population had swelled to 1,300 (and a hundred years later to 8,000!), which included 600 at Broadmoor (staff and inmates) and around 500 at the College. A major redevelopment of Broadmoor is due to start in late 2013 and a new access road is being driven through the landscape, linking up with the bypass to the east. Another new major institution, the Transport and Road Research Laboratory to the north of the village, has also attracted a great many more people to settle in Crowthorne. In the last 50 years, the village has grown enormously as a result of its proximity to London and Heathrow Airport: many new housing estates have been built and Crowthorne has become a desirable place to live. Crowthorne is on the map! The Devil's Highway The main Roman Road that ran from Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum), via Staines (Pontes) to London (Londinium) runs directly through what is now Crowthorne. It was on the junction of this road and that between Sandhurst and Bracknell that the original solitary tree called Crow Thorn stood. Known as 'The Devil's Highway', the Roman Road is now visible in only two areas: a short stretch called 'Roman Ride' and an unmade track eastwards from Brooker' Corner towards Swinley Forest. Two Roman milestones still survive in the area and a number of Roman coins and artefacts have been discovered. The road is said to have got its nickname when local inhabitants, after the Romans had departed, thought that only the Devil could have constructed such a feat of engineering. The Three Castles Path The Three Castles Path is a long distance route from Windsor to Winchester, providing 60 miles of easy walking through peaceful historic and beautiful countryside. The idea for this route was inspired by the well-documented 13th century journeys of King John between Windsor Castle and Winchester, via the castle he built near Odiham. A straight line drawn on the map joins these three historic places, with Odiham exactly half way. While many aspects of the countryside have altered dramatically in the 800 years since John's time, the contours are unchanged and the route uses some of the old ways that he would have known. Today the route still passes through a variety of attractive scenery; parkland and forest, over heaths and downland, beside quiet streams and through picturesque villages. It takes in Windsor Great Park to Ascot, the Crown Estate south of Bracknell, the Blackwater Valley, the Basingstoke canal, the Whitewater River and the River Itchen from Itchen Abbas to Winchester Castle Hall Despite recent developments the route mainly follows a continuous chain of rights of way. With the addition of some permitted paths through Crown Estate woodland the route is completed using less than five miles of mainly unclassified roads. This is not a strenuous walk and can be planned in stages over 3 to 5 days depending upon fitness and inclination. There are few steep hills to climb, not that many stiles and rarely much mud, making the route ideal for a first long distance path. The Ramblers Route The Ramblers Route is a walking trail developed by Bracknell Forest Council, which circumnavigates Bracknell Town and is made up of two loops, forming a figure of eight circuit. Each loop can be completed as a separate circular walk; with the Southern Loop 13 miles long and the Northern Loop 19 miles long (omitting a short overlapping stretch its 26 miles long). The Wokingham Way The Wokingham Way was put together by Loddon Valley Ramblers, with the aim of designing a long distance walk, which followed the Wokingham Borough unitary boundary as far as possible, but with the over-riding goal of developing walks that would be attractive. It is a total of 55 miles long. The walk is immensely varied, from the banks of the Thames, where the path follows the river's course north of Henley, passing the weir at Hambledon Lock, to ancient lanes and byways and open fields, and an Iron Age hill fort at Crowthorne Wood and an enclosed deer park at Cudham Court. It also includes some of the Blackwater Valley with its lakes, passes the Majeski Stadium and goes through central Reading along the Kennet to reach the Thames. .