BERKSHIRE

Don’t be put off by modern maps! Royal Berkshire (its full name) is much bigger than they indicate. It occupies the south bank of the River Thames, from the Surrey border near Windsor, westwards for very many miles, including the very large town of Reading, and as far as the small town of Faringdon. Yes, the civil servants have been at work again and lopped off the northern half of the County, giving it to Oxfordshire County Council to look after. Well, we know they can’t get away with that! Abingdon once was Berkshire’s County Town, and it’s still part of Berkshire, no matter who runs its Council.
Actually Berkshire has some claim to be England’s oldest County – its name was first recorded in 860 AD.
The now-restored Kennet and Avon Canal runs through the County, linking Reading to other important centres at Newbury and Hungerford. If you walk along the towpath of this canal, you will pass what appears to be a chemical factory near the village of Theale. It’s actually the Courage Brewery.

Girls’ Chess in Berkshire

We would be pleased to hear from anyone who would organise a girls’ team for Berkshire.

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