Calcot, Berkshire

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Calcot
civil_parish = Holybrook
civil_parish1 = Tilehurst
unitary_england = West Berkshire
lieutenancy_england = Berkshire
region = South East England
constituency_westminster = Reading West
os_grid_reference = SU660718
latitude = 51.441297
longitude = -1.049565
population = 9,093

Calcot, or Calcot Row, is a suburb west of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Calcot is situated along the A4 Bath Road between the old hamlet of Horncastle and Junction 12 of the M4 motorway. The suburb of Tilehurst lies to the north and in the hills above Calcot, while the village of Theale lies to the west across the motorway. The recent housing estates of Beansheaf Farm and Fords Farm lie to the south, and may be considered part of Calcot.Ordnance Survey (2006). "OS Explorer Map 159 – Reading". ISBN 0-319-23730-3.]

Although unquestionably a suburb of Reading, Calcot is not within the Borough of Reading. Rather it is split between the civil parishes of Holybrook and Tilehurst, with that part of Calcot north of the Bath Road in Tilehurst parish and that part south in Holybrook parish. The whole of Holybrook parish, together with that part of Calcot within Tilehurst parish, form the Calcot electoral ward of the unitary authority of West Berkshire.Both parishes have elected parish councils, and together with the unitary authority are responsible for different aspects of local government. Calcot is part of the Reading West parliamentary constituency.Ordnance Survey (2006). "OS Explorer Map 159 – Reading". ISBN 0-319-23730-3.] cite web | url = http://www.westberks.gov.uk/media/pdf/n/j/04_d__Ward_Boundaries.pdf | title = Ward Boundaries effective from May 2003 | publisher = West Berkshire Council | accessdate = 2007-09-26]

The Calcot ward of West Berkshire has an area of 324 hectares and a total population of 9,093 living in 3,554 dwellings.cite web | title = Neighbourhood Statistics home page | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadHome.do?bhcp=1 | publisher = National Statistics | accessdate = 2007-09-26]

There are two schools in Calcot sharing the same grounds, Calcot Junior School and Calcot Infant School which incorporates a nursery. When children leave primary school at 11 they attend secondary schools in neighbouring villages.

Calcot Park is a large country house and estate, to the north east of Calcot. Over the years the estate has been the home to Sir Peter Vanlore, Frances Kendrick, and to John Blagrave (a relative of the famous mathematician John Blagrave who built the present house in 1759). Today the house has been converted into apartments and grounds have become a golf course.cite web | title = Berkshire History : Calcot Park (Tilehurst) | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/calcot_park.html | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | date = 2001 | accessdate = 2007-09-25]

Calcot Mill is a former watermill situated on the Holy Brook to the south of Calcot. On the site of a mill originally owned by Reading Abbey, the current mill has been converted into apartments.

References