COAT OF ARMS

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Berkshire is in the the South East part of England and is sometimes referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the residence of Windsor Castle located in this county. The county got its name from a large forest of birch trees.

Berkshire is one of the oldest counties in England dating back to the traditional county borders set by King Alfred the Great of Wessex. Many battles have been fought over the years here.

The River Thames forms the northern boundery of Berkshire. The western part of the county lies around the valley of the River Kennet which joins the Thames River in Reading.

Berkshire does not have a county council. Conservatives control West Berkshire, Wokingham and Bracknell Forest councils, Labour control Reading council, the Liberal Democrats control Windsor and Maidenhead and the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives jointly control Slough.

The largest town is Reading but Windsor is more famous as Queen Elizabeth II lives there in Windsor Castle.

Other Castles and Churches

Donnington Castle was built by Richard Abberbury the Elder who was the original owner. Richard II granted the license to him in 1386.

Bisham Abbey itself - which was actually a priory for most of its life - stood alongside and must have dominated the estate in its day.

Henry I founded Reading Abbey in 1121 "for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of King William, my father, and of King William, my brother, and Queen Maud, my wife, and all my ancestors and successors".

MAPS

Berkshire County

Districts 1. West Berkshire 2. Reading 3. Wokingham 4. Bracknell Forest 5. Windsor and Maidenhead 6. Slough

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PHOTOS

Kennet River Valley

Newbury and surroundings - from Donnington Castle

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Windsor Great Park is a large Crown Estate south of the town of Windsor to the west of London in the United Kingdom. The park originates as the private hunting grounds for Windsor Castle and dates from at least the 11th Century.

Valley Gardens Windsor Great Park

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Copper Horse depicting George III on Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park. He had a set of 2,000 year old Roman ruins imported from Libya and placed in the park.

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