Did You Know?

Berkshire has been the scene of some notable battles through its history. Alfred the Great's campaign against the Danes included the Battles of Englefield, Ashdown and Reading. 

Windsor Castle in Berkshire is the largest inhabited castle in the world? Successive monarchs from William the Conqueror onwards have had a hand in extending and altering the building. 

it's mostly known for playing host to the Royal Family! They spend a lot of time in Windsor Castle and in their individual homes in the area. However, the area is also famous for its cheese, its sheep, its biscuits, and its beer.

King Henry I is buried at Reading Abbey in Berkshire, perhaps not surprising given he founded it in 1121. He died in France, and his embalmed body had to be returned wrapped in hide to delay decay.

Reading (pronounced red-ing) is home to a research university founded in 1892, and weirdly enough, is known for its biscuits, beer, and for having the UK’s longest railway viaduct. It’s also bid for city status at least three times. Your time will come, Reading!

Berkshire received the title "Royal County" in 1957 due to the presence of Windsor Castle. The area has historical ties to royalty dating back to the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror established Windsor as a royal residence.

Have you ever heard of the Silicon Corridor? It’s a nickname given to the Thames Valley region in Berkshire. It gained the nickname due to the presence of numerous technology companies and research centres that have set up in the area, such as Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle, LG, and Huawei – it’s also known as the M4 Corridor as it’s close to the M4 motorway.

The Ostrich pub in Colnbrook, Berkshire is the third oldest pub in all England? King John stayed here on his way to seal Magna Carta in 1215 . It was established in 1106 by one Milo Crispin, and was originally named simply The Hospice 

The Ankerwycke Yew is an ancient yew tree close to the ruins of St Mary's Priory, the site of a Benedictine nunnery built in the 12th century, near Wraysbury in Berkshire. This iconic 2,500 year old yew tress is steeped in history.

As one of the largest urban areas in the UK to be without city status, Reading in Berkshire has bid for city status on three recent occasions – in 2000 to celebrate the new millennium; in 2002 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and in 2012 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. All three bids were unsuccessful.