64-724: The Home Park , previously known as the Little Park (and originally Lydecroft Park ), is a 2.65 km royal park near Windsor, Berkshire , administered by the Crown Estate of the United Kingdom. It is the private grounds of Windsor Castle . It lies mainly on the eastern side of the castle in the former civil parish of Windsor in the English county of Berkshire . The park includes the Frogmore estate, and several private organisations related to
128-611: A central point at Charing Cross (in the City of Westminster ), which is marked by the statue of King Charles I at the junction of the Strand , Whitehall and Cockspur Street , just south of Trafalgar Square . The central area is distinguished, according to the Royal Commission , by the inclusion within its boundaries of Parliament and the Royal Palaces, the headquarters of Government,
192-500: A cost of £14,000. Charles Hollis was appointed architect and the new building was erected between 1820 and 1822 with cast iron columns that were floated down the Thames. The ribs that support the roof are also cast iron. The new church, Gothic in style with a pinnacle tower containing the bells, was officially consecrated by the Bishop of Salisbury on 22 June 1822. Samuel Sanders Teulon added
256-675: A golf course, a bowling green (for the Royal Household Bowling Club), a cricket field (for the Royal Household Cricket Club ), tennis courts (Windsor Home Park Lawn Tennis Club), the playing fields of St George's School , Adelaide Cottage (on the site of the old Keeper's Lodge) and the Frogmore Estate , including Frogmore House , and gardens with Frogmore Cottage and a large lake, the Royal Mausoleum and
320-496: A large central coach park with 74 spaces to cater mostly for the large tourist groups coming to visit Windsor Castle and town. It is accessed by pedestrians via a footbridge adjacent to Windsor & Eton Central railway station . Windsor is linked to the town of Eton (on the opposite bank of the River Thames ) by Windsor Bridge . Originally a fully trafficked road bridge, Windsor Bridge is now for pedestrians and cyclists only. To
384-487: Is Peascod Street. Windsor has two railway stations. Windsor & Eton Central railway station is the southern terminus of the Slough–Windsor & Eton line . A Great Western Railway shuttle to Slough connects with services to London Paddington and Reading . Windsor & Eton Riverside station is the terminus for South Western Railway direct services from London Waterloo . Both stations were built at around
448-561: Is a historic town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire , England. It is the site of Windsor Castle , one of the official residences of the British monarch . The town is situated 21.8 miles (35.1 km) west of Charing Cross , central London , 5.8 miles (9.3 km) southeast of Maidenhead , and 15.8 miles (25.4 km) east of the modern county town of Reading . It
512-590: Is dedicated to St John the Baptist and is situated adjacent to the High Street. The church is said to have dated from the time that King Henry I moved the Royal Court from Old Windsor to 'New Windsor'. The church was clearly established by the time of Henry II in about 1110, as there are references to it by then. In 1543, Henry Filmer , Robert Testwood and Anthony Pearson , the three Windsor Martyrs , were burnt at
576-433: Is described as "a unique cluster of vitally important activities including central government offices, headquarters and embassies, the largest concentration of London's financial and business services sector and the offices of trade, professional bodies, institutions, associations, communications, publishing, advertising and the media". For strategic planning, since 2011 there has been a Central London sub-region comprising
640-506: Is immediately south of the River Thames , which forms its boundary with its smaller, ancient twin town of Eton . The village of Old Windsor , just over 2 miles (3 km) to the south, predates what is now called Windsor by around 300 years. In the past, Windsor was formally referred to as New Windsor to distinguish the two. Windlesora is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle . (The settlement had an earlier name but this
704-529: Is unknown.) The name originates from old English Windles-ore or winch by the riverside . This etymology is shared with Winsor in Hampshire. By 1110, meetings of the Great Council , which had previously taken place at Windlesora, were noted as taking place at the castle , referred to as New Windsor. By the late 12th century the settlement at Windelsora had been renamed Old Windsor . The early history of
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#1732848754838768-462: The Assumption ; which is now better known as Eton College . Pilgrims came with substantial sums to spend. From perhaps two or three named inns in the late 15th century, some 30 can be identified a century later. The town again grew in wealth. For London pilgrims, Windsor was probably – but briefly – of greater importance than Canterbury and the shrine of that city's patron saint Thomas Becket . With
832-592: The Black Death in 1348 had reduced some towns' populations by up to 50%, in Windsor the building projects of Edward III brought money to the town, and possibly its population doubled: this was a 'boom' time for the local economy. People came to the town from every part of the country, and from continental Europe. The poet Geoffrey Chaucer held the honorific post of Clerk of the Works at Windsor Castle in 1391. The development of
896-484: The City of London and several boroughs . Over time, a number of definitions have been used to define the scope of Central London for statistics, urban planning and local government. Its characteristics are understood to include a high-density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally, nationally and internationally significant organisations and facilities. Road distances to London are traditionally measured from
960-649: The Combined Counties League Division One and their home ground was Stag Meadow, granted to the original club by King George V in 1911, before they moved to Holloways Park. Windsor Cricket Club's clubhouse and pitches are at Home Park (public) adjacent to Windsor Castle . The club played host to a 2006 Lord's Taverners cricket match. The Windsor 1st team currently play in Division 2A of the Thames Valley League. Windsor Rugby Club also use
1024-731: The Herbert Commission and the subsequent passage of the London Government Bill , three unsuccessful attempts were made to define an area that would form a central London borough . The first two were detailed in the 1959 Memorandum of Evidence of the Greater London Group of the London School of Economics . "Scheme A" envisaged a central London borough, one of 25, consisting of the City of London, Westminster, Holborn, Finsbury and
1088-685: The Law Courts , the head offices of a very large number of commercial and industrial firms, as well as institutions of great influence in the intellectual life of the nation such as the British Museum , the National Gallery , the Tate Gallery , the University of London , the headquarters of the national ballet and opera, together with the headquarters of many national associations, the great professions,
1152-543: The Royal Burial Ground . Also attached are Shaw Farm , the former Prince Consort 's Home Farm and the Windsor Farm Shop. The grave of Dash , the favourite spaniel of Queen Victoria , can be found on the grounds. Originally in the manor of Orton and not a royal possession, part of the area was first emparked (for deer hunting ) by King Edward III in 1368 and expansion continued over many centuries. Areas of
1216-754: The chancel and the apse in 1880. The chancel screen was added in 1898 to mark the 60-year reign of Queen Victoria . In 1906 the Hunter organ was installed. The north side gallery was reduced in length to make way for the organ. The more recent church of All Saints' is situated on Frances Road. The incumbent vicar is the Revd Canon Sally Lodge. The author Thomas Hardy trained as an architect and joined Arthur Blomfield 's practice as assistant architect in April 1862. Between 1862 and 1864 he worked with Blomfield on All Saints'. A reredos , possibly designed by Hardy,
1280-460: The 16th century survive in part, although most of the once substantial borough archive dating back to the 12th century was destroyed, probably in the late 17th century. New Windsor was a nationally significant town in the Middle Ages , certainly one of the fifty wealthiest towns in the country by 1332. Its prosperity came from its close association with the royal household. The repeated investment in
1344-470: The City of London, the whole of Finsbury and Holborn, most of Westminster and Southwark, parts of St Pancras, St Marylebone, Paddington and a small part of Kensington. The area had an estimated population of 400,000 and occupied 8,000 acres (32 km ). During the passage of the London Government Bill an amendment was put forward to create a central borough corresponding to the definition used at
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#17328487548381408-706: The Crown , was a privileged settlement from the start, apparently having the rights of a free borough , for which other towns had to pay substantial fees to the king. It had a merchant guild (known by the 14th century as the Fraternity or brotherhood of the Holy Trinity ) from the early 13th century and, under royal patronage, was made the chief town of the county in 1277, as part of its grant of royal borough status by Edward I 's charter . Somewhat unusually, this charter gave no new rights or privileges to Windsor but probably codified
1472-503: The Crown . Now known as Cumberland Lodge after the Duke of Cumberland 's residence there in the mid-18th century, the house was variously known as Byfield House, New Lodge, Ranger's Lodge, Windsor Lodge and Great Lodge. In 1778, there was a resumption of the royal presence, with George III at the Queen's Lodge and, from 1804, at the castle. This started a period of new development in Windsor, with
1536-625: The Home Park (public) ground and the team currently plays in the Southern Counties North division. Several other local sports clubs are based at Home Park (public), including hockey and archery clubs, and the Datchet Dashers running club. Royal Windsor Rollergirls were one of the first roller derby leagues to be founded in the UK in 2007. They disbanded in 2023. State-funded schooling in
1600-601: The Home Park are mentioned in Shakespeare 's Merry Wives of Windsor and show that the main road to Datchet then ran through it. The famous Herne's Oak stood nearby. Oliver Cromwell trained his New Model Army in the park. George III removed the deer in 1785. The modern boundaries of the park were set by the Windsor Improvement Act 1846 and the Windsor Castle Act 1848 , when the road to Datchet through
1664-539: The Metropolis or in any provincial city, and the enormous office developments which have taken place recently constitute a totally new phenomenon. Starting in 2004, the London Plan defined a 'Central Activities Zone' policy area, which as of 2008 comprised the City of London, most of Westminster and the inner parts of Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Kensington & Chelsea and Wandsworth. It
1728-414: The Queen throughout the rest of the 19th century. Unfortunately, excessive redevelopment and 'refurbishment' of Windsor's medieval fabric at this time resulted in widespread destruction of the old town, including the demolition of the old parish church of St John the Baptist in 1820. The original had been built around 1135. Most of the current town's streets date from the mid to late 19th century. However
1792-626: The Royal Mews). Her residence in this house, as far as it is possible to tell, was brief. Only one of her letters addressed from Burford House survives: it was probably intended as a legacy for her illegitimate son, the Earl of Burford, later the Duke of St Albans . Windsor was garrisoned by Colonel Venn during the English Civil War . Later it became the home of the New Model Army when Venn had left
1856-519: The Windsor homeless was impounded by police. The current Member of Parliament for the Windsor constituency (which includes the surrounding small towns and villages, such as Eton and Datchet ) is Jack Rankin ( Conservative ), who was first elected at the 2024 General Election . Windsor was an ancient borough , officially called 'New Windsor' to distinguish it from the neighbouring village and parish of Old Windsor. New Windsor's earliest known charter
1920-424: The base-line of the survey at Hounslow Heath . The substantial redevelopment of the castle in the subsequent decade and Queen Victoria 's residence from 1840, as well as the coming of two railways in 1849, signalled the most dramatic changes in the town's history. These events catapulted the town from a sleepy medieval has-been to the centre of empire – many European crowned heads of state came to Windsor to visit
1984-472: The borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, which was allowed to use the style of royal borough. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead became a unitary authority in 1998 when it took over the functions of the abolished Berkshire County Council . Windsor is twinned with: Windsor has had many notable residents. Central London Central London is the innermost part of London , in England , spanning
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2048-521: The boroughs of Camden , Islington , Kensington and Chelsea , Lambeth , Southwark , Westminster and the City of London . From 2004 to 2008, the London Plan included a sub-region called Central London comprising Camden, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth and Westminster. It had a 2001 population of 1,525,000. The sub-region was replaced in 2008 with a new structure which amalgamated inner and outer boroughs together. This
2112-532: The building of two army barracks. However the associated large numbers of soldiers led to a major prostitution problem by 1830, in a town where the number of streets had little changed since 1530. In the 18th century the town traded with London selling the Windsor Chair which was actually made in Buckinghamshire . A number of fine houses were built in this period, including Hadleigh House on Sheet Street, which
2176-512: The castle brought London merchants (goldsmiths, vintners , spicers and mercers ) to the town in the late 13th century and provided much employment for townsmen. The development of the castle under Edward III , between 1350 and 1368, was the largest secular building project in England of the Middle Ages, and many Windsor people worked on this project, again bringing great wealth to the town. Although
2240-524: The castle continued in the late 15th century with the rebuilding of St George's Chapel . With this Windsor became a major pilgrimage destination, particularly for Londoners. Pilgrims came to touch the royal shrine of the murdered Henry VI , the fragment of the True Cross and other important relics. Visits to the chapel were probably combined with a visit to the important nearby Marian shrine and college at Eton , founded by Henry VI in 1440, and dedicated to
2304-506: The castle in 1645. Despite its royal dependence, like many commercial centres, Windsor was a Parliamentarian town. Charles I was buried without ceremony in St George's Chapel after his execution at Whitehall in 1649. The present Guildhall , built in 1680–91, replaced an earlier market house that had been built on the same site around 1580, as well as the old guildhall, which faced the castle and had been built around 1350. The contraction in
2368-458: The closures of the Reformation , however, Windsor's pilgrims traffic died out, and the town began to stagnate about ten years afterwards. The castle was considered old-fashioned and shrines to the dead were thought to be superstitious. The early modern period formed a stark contrast to the medieval history of the town. Henry VIII was buried in St George's Chapel in 1547, next to Jane Seymour ,
2432-619: The estate have facilities in the park. To the Home Park's south is the Windsor Great Park , largely open to the public. Home Park is listed Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Historic England . The Home Park is divided from the main Windsor Great Park by the busy Albert Road (A308) towards Old Windsor . It is the private estate of the castle . As well as beautiful parkland , gardens and avenues of fine trees, it contains farmland ( cattle grazing and winter feed),
2496-503: The inner parts of St Marylebone, St Pancras, Chelsea, Southwark and Lambeth. The boundary deviated from existing lines to include all central London railway stations , the Tower of London and the museums, such that it included small parts of Kensington, Shoreditch, Stepney and Bermondsey. It had an estimated population of 350,000 and occupied 7,000 acres (28 km ). "Scheme B" delineated central London, as one of 7 boroughs, including most of
2560-494: The main street, Peascod Street ( / ˈ p ɛ s k ɒ d / ) is very ancient, predating the castle by many years, and probably of Anglo-Saxon origin. It formed part of the 10th-century parish structure in east Berkshire and is first referred to as Peascroftstret in c. 1170. The 1,000-year-old royal castle, although the largest and longest-occupied in Europe, is a recent development in comparison. The original parish church of Windsor
2624-489: The mother of his only legitimate son, Edward ( Edward VI ). Henry, the founder of the Church of England , may have wanted to benefit from the stream of pilgrims coming to the town. His will gives that impression. Most accounts of Windsor in the 16th and 17th centuries talk of its poverty, badly made streets and poor housing. Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor is set in Windsor and contains many references to parts of
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2688-453: The new town (including the parish church, marketplace, bridge, hermitage and leper hospital) did not take place until c. 1170 , under Henry II , following the civil war of Stephen's reign. At about the same time, the castle was rebuilt in stone. Windsor Bridge is the earliest bridge on the Thames between Staines and Reading , built at a time when bridge building was rare; it
2752-505: The number of old public buildings speaks of a town 'clearing the decks', ready for a renewed period of prosperity with Charles II 's return to the Castle. But his successors did not use the place, and as the town was short of money, the planned new civic buildings did not appear. The town continued in poverty until the mid 19th century. In 1652 the largest house in Windsor Great Park was built on land which Oliver Cromwell had appropriated from
2816-413: The parish of Clewer was split into parishes called Clewer Within, being within the borough boundaries, and Clewer Without, covering the area outside the borough. Clewer Without was subsequently absorbed into the borough of New Windsor in 1920, after which the borough contained the three parishes of New Windsor, Clewer Within and Clewer Without. The borough council met at Windsor Guildhall . The borough
2880-460: The park was closed and public access denied. Frogmore House and gardens alone are open to the general public on a few specific days in the spring and summer. The Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Windsor Rose Show also take place within the park. 51°29′06″N 0°35′42″W / 51.485°N 0.595°W / 51.485; -0.595 Windsor, Berkshire Windsor
2944-475: The possibility of creating a civil parish covering the town was being considered by the borough council, but no decision had been made. In 2012 the council reintroduced the role of town crier to the borough. The previous town crier had retired in 1892 and for 120 years the post remained vacant. The current crier is Chris Brown In 2018 the belongings of homeless people were controversially removed and stored for reasons of security. A bus intended to shelter
3008-461: The rights which it had enjoyed for many years. Windsor's position as chief town of Berkshire was short-lived, however, as people found it difficult to reach. Wallingford took over this position in the early 14th century. As a self-governing town Windsor enjoyed a number of freedoms unavailable to other towns, including the right to hold its own borough court, the right of membership (or 'freedom') and some financial independence. The town accounts of
3072-629: The same time in the 19th century, as the two train companies which owned the lines both wanted to carry Queen Victoria to Windsor, with the first line opened gaining the privilege. From 1883 to 1885, London's District Railway 's westbound service from ran as far as Windsor. Bus services in the town are provided by Thames Valley Buses , First Berkshire & The Thames Valley and Reading Buses . There are frequent bus services between Windsor and Heathrow Airport , Green Line Coach Station in Central London , and Legoland Windsor Resort . Windsor has
3136-487: The site is unknown, although it was almost certainly settled some years before 1070 when William the Conqueror had a timber motte-and-bailey castle constructed. The focus of royal interest at that time was not the castle, however, but a small riverside settlement about 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream, possibly established from the 7th century. From about the 8th century, high status people as well as royalty began visiting
3200-484: The site. From the 11th century the site's link with King Edward the Confessor is documented. In the later medieval period, royal use of the site increased, probably because it offered good access to woodlands and opportunities for hunting – a sport which also developed military skills. The settlement at Old Windsor largely transferred to New Windsor during the 12th century, although substantial planning and setting out of
3264-418: The south of the town lies Windsor Great Park and the towns of Old Windsor , Egham and Virginia Water . Windsor lies on National Cycle Route 4 (London– Fishguard ). The main access roads serving the town have adjacent cycle paths or nearby alternative traffic-free cycle routes. Windsor has links to three local motorways: Windsor's senior football team is Windsor F.C. 2011) The team currently play in
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#17328487548383328-462: The stake in Deanery Gardens, near the church. The original church building had Saxon arches and Norman work and by the 18th century it was described as 'a vast building with 10 side altars and several chantries' and perhaps eight gabled roofs . There was a small spire on top of the main central tower. In 1818 the high cost of repairs to the old building led to plans for a complete rebuild at
3392-474: The town and the surrounding countryside. Shakespeare must have walked the town's streets, near the castle and river Thames, much as people still do. The play may have been written in the Garter Inn, opposite the Castle, but this was destroyed by fire in the late 17th century. The long-standing – and famous – courtesan of king Charles II , Nell Gwyn , was given a house on St Albans Street: Burford House (now part of
3456-482: The town is Legoland Windsor , the only Legoland park in the United Kingdom and the largest Legoland park in the world in terms of area. Legoland Windsor was built on the site of the former Windsor Safari Park . As a tourist town there are many gift shops around the castle, and there are shops and restaurants in Windsor Royal Station inside Windsor & Eton Central railway station . The main shopping street
3520-429: The town is provided by a system of three-tier schooling . Schools are controlled by either the local authority or academy trusts . The town is served by eleven first schools for children up to 9 years old, and three middle schools until age 13. Pupils aged 13–18 can elect to attend the town's two single-sex secondary schools: The Windsor Boys' School and Windsor Girls' School . Several independent schools operate in
3584-538: The town, including: Local radio stations are community based radio stations such as Radio Roadhouse and Royal Borough Radio. The town's local newspaper is the Windsor Express . There is one tier of local government covering Windsor, at unitary authority level: the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead , which has its headquarters in Maidenhead . The Windsor built-up area is unparished . As at November 2023,
3648-534: The trade unions, the trade associations, social service societies, as well as shopping centres and centres of entertainment which attract people from the whole of Greater London and farther afield. In many other respects the central area differs from areas farther out in London. The rateable value of the central area is exceptionally high. Its day population is very much larger than its night population. Its traffic problems reach an intensity not encountered anywhere else in
3712-413: Was altered in 2011 when a new Central London sub-region was created, now including the City of London and excluding Wandsworth. The 1901 Census defined Central London as the City of London and the metropolitan boroughs (subdivisions that existed from 1900 to 1965) of Bermondsey , Bethnal Green , Finsbury , Holborn , Shoreditch , Southwark , Stepney , St Marylebone and Westminster . During
3776-472: Was between Henry II and Ruadhrí Ua Conchobhair , High King of Ireland . The treaty involved agreements regarding the two kings' respective spheres of influence on the island of Ireland, control over their subjects, and the paying of tribute to Henry. Despite the agreement, the treaty would collapse and conflict in Ireland would continue for several centuries. The town of New Windsor, as an ancient demesne of
3840-606: Was built in 1793 by the then mayor of Windsor, William Thomas. In 1811 it was the home of John O'Reilly, the apothecary-surgeon to George III . Windsor Castle was the westernmost sighting-point for the Anglo-French Survey (1784–1790) , which measured the precise distance between the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Paris Observatory by trigonometry . Windsor was used because of its relative proximity to
3904-523: Was discovered behind panelling at All Saints' in August 2016. As a result of the castle, Windsor is a popular tourist destination and has facilities usually found in larger towns: two railway stations, a theatre and several substantial hotels. Various boat trips operate on the River Thames, with connections to Maidenhead and Staines-upon-Thames . In winter, Alexandra Gardens hosts a temporary ice rink. Near
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#17328487548383968-428: Was first documented in 1191 but had probably been built, according to the Pipe rolls , in 1173. It played an important part in the national road system, linking London with Reading and Winchester . By directing traffic into the new town, it underpinned the success of New Windsor's fledgling economy. The town was the site of the Treaty of Windsor in the year 1175, following the Normans invasion of Ireland. The treaty
4032-470: Was issued in 1277, but the evidence suggests the town was administered as a borough prior to that. The borough covered the parish of New Windsor and part of the parish of Clewer . It was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 , which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country. The Local Government Act 1894 directed that parishes were no longer allowed to straddle borough boundaries, and so
4096-407: Was styled a royal borough from medieval times. Following a proliferation of other boroughs with royal connections styling themselves as royal boroughs in the early 20th century, the government announced in 1926 that only Windsor and Kensington had official sanction to use the title. The municipal borough of New Windsor was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 , becoming part of
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