Bagshot, Surrey

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Bagshot
static_

map_type= Surrey
latitude= 51.3607
longitude= -0.6982
population = 5,365 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5942917&c=bagshot&d=14&e=15&g=491868&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1201201343281&enc=1 Census data] ]
shire_district= Surrey Heath
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Surrey Heath
post_town= Bagshot
postcode_district = GU19
postcode_area= GU
dial_code= 01276
os_grid_reference= SU907632

Bagshot is a village in the South-East of England. It is situated in the North-West corner of Surrey near the border of Royal Berkshire, and is also in the diocese of Guildford. In the past Bagshot served as an important staging post between London, Southampton and the West Country, evidence of this can been seen in some of the original coaching inns that are still there today. It is situated 43 km (27 miles) southwest of London, adjacent to junction 3 of the M3 motorway and on the A30 road, between Camberley and Sunningdale. Much of the surrounding land is owned by the Ministry of Defence and is part of Windsor Great Park, the area is in the Green Belt that surrounds London. The village is served by Bagshot railway station.

History

Recent excavations have shown that first occupants of Bagshot date back as far as pre-Roman, before these excavations it was thought that the earliest settlements in Bagshot were late Saxon. Late Bronze Age settlements have been identified in the area, and iron smelting appears to have been a major 'industry' in the locality. Bagshot has had a Royal hunting lodge certainly through Stuart and Tudor times, now called Bagshot Park and is now the residence of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

In Elizabethan times (late 16th century) Bagshot prospered due to its position on the main London to the West Country road (The Great West Road, now classified as the A30). As with many villages on main coaching routes inns developed to provide services to the stage coach passengers, and stables to provide the coaches with fresh horses. The prosperity of the Great West Road created its share of highwaymen, one of the most notorious being William Davis, a local farmer who lived near what known local as the Jolly Farmer roundabout. He was eventually caught at the White Hart Inn in Bagshot and hanged. Not one to avoid suspicion he always paid his debts in gold! It was after him that the pub was called the Golden Farmer.

t Anne's Church

St Anne's Church is the main church in Bagshot. It is 120 years old [ [http://www.bagshotvillage.org.uk/st-anne/index.htm St Anne's Church] ] and was built in a neo-gothic style under the patronage of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught [ [http://www.bagshotvillage.org.uk/bpark/index.htm Bagshot Park] ] who lived in the nearby Bagshot Park. It is a red brick building in red brick with stone detail under a slate roof. There is a bell tower with a peal of eight bells. It is a grade II listed building and is situated in a conservation area.

Today

Pennyhill Park Hotel located in the village is where the England rugby team [ [http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s245/st29481.htm Rugby network] ] used to train. Bagshot Park, home of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. The A30 leaving Bagshot to the southwest for Camberley has a large roundabout on it called the Jolly Farmer after a public house that used to stand in its centre.

The local Borough, Surrey Heath, is mainly a Conservative area and it has held a Conservative Council for the past 50 years.

Local businessman Peter Long (owner of Longacres Nursery) holds an annual ploughing competition on his land next to Longacres Nursery, on the A30.Fact|date=January 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.bagshotvillage.org.uk/bagshot/about.htm About Bagshot Village]
* [http://www.bagshotvillage.org.uk/bagshot/origin.shtml/The origins of Bagshot]