Tours > Royal County of Berkshire Towns > Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead
is twinned with its near neighbour,
Windsor, in a double borough. It grew up
as the home of the elite whose homes
still spread out along the Thames. At the
top of the social pyramid were the Astors
who lived at Cliveden House, an 18th
century palatial mansion in the most
amazing setting overlooking the river
from the Buckinghamshire side of the
Thames. It now belongs to the National
Trust who open the grounds and a small
number of rooms to the public
throughout the Spring and Summer.
However, it is mostly taken up by the
most exclusive hotel in the country. It
was the scene of the infamous events of
the Profumo Affair of the 1960s.As an 18th
century town that grew up on the border
of the villages of Bray and Cookham,
there are few old buildings in
Maidenhead. Though there are some
interesting pubs, like the Bear Hotel,
which used to serve the vast coaching
industry along the Bath Road. Maidenhead
was a particularly popular stopping point
travelling west, as the nearby 'Thicket'
was notorious for highwaymen and coachmen
did not like to cross it at night. Today this
once infamous common has been much reduced in
size, but it is still a pleasant place for a
stroll. There are the remains of an Iron-Age
enclosure to examine, laid out by the National
Trust. It may have been a farmstead or even a temple.
Nearby is Courage Brewery's Shire Horse Centre
where you can see the mighty horses that once pulled
the brewers' drays. There are cart rides, audio visual
displays, a working saddler and an aviary
to keep the whole family amused.
Maidenhead boasts the standard range of High
Street shops in a compact shopping area.
The NatWest Bank is notable as the site
of the Greyhound Inn where King Charles I
met his children for the last time before
his execution in 1649. There are
excellent sporting facilities at the
Magnet Leisure Centre including ten-pin bowling and a 'Crystal Maze' adventure, but plans for a
local museum have not yet come to fruition.
Maidenhead Bridge
is an elegant 18th century affair, while
the more stark Railway Bridge, designed
by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was hailed as
a masterpiece when new. Both cross the
Thames at a busy extension east of the
town centre, but one with delightful
walks nearby along the riverside towards
Boulters Lock.
Cox Green is
Maidenhead's business area with much of
the latest technology in evidence. It is
also the site of some of the region's
most ancient buildings. The Residential
area is built upon a large Roman Villa,
while two medieval manors stand on its
southern edge. Ockwells is a medieval
work of art: a private house whose garden
is very occasionally (once a year if
you're lucky) opened to the public. A
third house, Shoppenhangers, is now a
hotel. It is a fascinating architectural
mix, built in the early 20th century from
ancient parts of other buildings.
Next Stop:
Bracknell
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