Berkshire County
(Historic)

Map Reference: 51.561591, -1.40860

Berkshire is a Royal County in southern England. The River Thames forms the county's northern border for over 100 miles. The Berkshire Downs, a range of chalk hills, run west-east from the Wiltshire border, ending near the Thames south of Wallingford. Between the Berkshire Downs and the Thames lies the valley of the River Ock, named the Vale of the White Horse from the mysterious figure carved into the chalk hillside. Wantage was the birthplace of Alfred the Great. The county town of Abingdon lies on the west bank of the Thames, where the Ock meets it. Nearby Didcot is noted for its railway heritage. Wallingford is a beautiful market town at the foot of the Berkshire Downs. The valley of the River Kennet runs west to east across the county, to the south of the Berkshire Downs. Newbury, on the Kennet, has many 17th-century buildings. Reading lies where the Kennet enters the Thames. Reading Abbey was founded by Henry I in 1121. South and west of Reading is the Lodden Valley which includes the market town of Wokingham. In the south-east of the county lie Bracknell, a post-war new town; Sandhurst, known for its military academy; Ascot, famed for its racecourse; Maidenhead, a prosperous town on the Thames; and Windsor, a jewel of a town dominated by Windsor Castle.