Old Windsor
Coordinates: 51°27′36″N 0°35′10″W / 51.46°N 0.586°W
| Old Windsor | |
 Old Windsor Lock |
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 Old Windsor
Old Windsor shown within Berkshire |
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| Population | 4,775 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | SU9874 |
| Parish | Old Windsor |
| Unitary authority | Windsor and Maidenhead |
| Ceremonial county | Berkshire |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WINDSOR |
| Postcode district | SL4 |
| Dialling code | 01753 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Windsor |
| List of places: UK • England • Berkshire |
Old Windsor is a large village and civil parish in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.
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[edit] Location
Old Windsor is located just south of the town of Windsor and near to the villages of Englefield Green and Datchet. It sits on the River Thames, and provides a pleasant walk along the river's edge to Old Windsor Lock in the summer. There are excellent views of Windsor Castle to be had from Pelling Hill, a private road, similar in style to the northern section of the Wentworth Estate at nearby Virginia Water.
[edit] History
Old Windsor was originally the site of an important palace of the Saxon Kings. Certainly the settlement is documented as a defended royal manor in Edward the Confessor's time (1060s), but archaeological evidence suggests royal connections had existed since at least 9th century. Old Windsor was popular with the monarch because of its convenient location: near the river for transport and Windsor Forest for hunting. Old Windsor was also an early minster location and market, probably associated with a lock (hence the need for a winch) and important riverside mill complex. The name Windsor is believed to come from the Anglo Saxon 'Windlesora' meaning "Windslass on the bank"[1]. The Saxon palace was eventually superseded by the Norman castle - Windsor Castle - at 'New' Windsor. The medieval manor house, however, became a popular Royal hunting lodge, at a time when the castle was a fortress rather than a comfortable residence.
[edit] The Great Park
Windsor Great Park is largely within the bounds of Old Windsor, including both the Royal and Cumberland Lodges.
[edit] Famous people
Old Windsor is the home of several famous people, including:
- Sir Elton John who lives at Woodside on the edge of the Great Park
- Lisa Scott-Lee from the pop group Steps
- Actress Geraldine McEwan was born in Old Windsor
- Mark Stephens (solicitor) was born in Old Windsor
[edit] Travel
Old Windsor is approximately 5 minutes drive from Windsor and 20 minutes from London Heathrow Airport, and is near to the M4 and M25 motorways. The nearest railway station is located at Datchet and is just under 3 miles (5 km) away.
[edit] References
- ^ a b South S.R., The Book of Windsor, Barracuda Books, 1977. ISBN 0-86023-038-4
[edit] External links
Media related to Old Windsor at Wikimedia Commons
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