Windlesham

infobox UK place

country = England
latitude= 51.36
longitude= -0.66
official_name= Windlesham
map_type= Surrey
population = 4,376
shire_district= Surrey Heath
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England

constituency_westminster= Surrey Heath
post_town= WINDLESHAM
postcode_district = GU20
postcode_area= GU
dial_code= 01276, some 01344
os_grid_reference= SU930635

Windlesham is a large village in the Surrey Heath district of Surrey in South East England. It is also the name of the parish that covers Bagshot and Lightwater, additionally. Its name derives from the Windle Brook which runs south of the village and 'ham', the Old English word for 'homestead'.

It has one church, St John the Baptist, and six pubs. Another centre for social activity is the Windlesham Club and Theatre. Famous residents include Brian May (guitarist in English rock band Queen) and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. HM Queen Elizabeth II also lived in Windlesham at one time. Andrew Ridgeley of Wham was born in the nursing home that used to be in Hatton Hill, Windlesham.

Windlesham was once, as most of the surrounding area was also, part of Windsor Great Park and in its beginnings, a farming town. Today Windlesham is a community with many estates and various clubs. With easy access to the A30 (London Road), a few major motorways, Sunningdale train station and Heathrow Airport, it can be classed as a commuter town/village.

Windlesham is home to one of the most expensive houses in the world, Updown Court, which is currently on the market for in excess of £70m(138m USD). Larger than either Buckingham or Hampton Court palace, this 103-room home has 58 acres of gardens and woodlands.

Windlesham is also the home to some large industrial companies. It is the UK base of the American play equipment giant, Rainbow Play Systems, as well as the Wooldridge Group.

Local Schools

There are four schools in the Windlesham area, two of which are in the village itself: Valley End first school and Windlesham First School.

Field of Remembrance

The village field is home to one of the local recreational parks including a play area. Lots of village events take place on the field one of the most well known is the Windlesham Fête. The field is also used in the summer months by Windlesham Cricket Club

Pram Race

Windlesham is known for its annual pram race in which teams race around the village and drink at every pub. This usually happens every Boxing Day.

References

* [http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/591f7dda55aad72a80256c670041a50d/1c602ea59c869c9180256e600054b26c/$FILE/Town%20populations.pdf Population figures (PDF)]

External links

* [http://www.windlesham.org.uk/ Windlesham Community Website]
* [http://www.windleshamchurch.org.uk/ St John the Baptist Church, Windlesham]
* [http://www.updowncourt.com/default.asp Updown Court]